Strapper

I was, however, but a very brief period employed as a strapper, as from the care and pains which I took in cleaning and watering the horses they soon mended in their jaded, worn-out appearance, for they were regularly fed, because I was regularly sober, a state, I have been informed, in which my predecessor was never in after mid-day.

On large establishments a head-man superintends the strappers, and the general management of the horses.

A boy was called a strapper because when you cleaned and dressed a horse properly, you had a nice flat towel, and you used to hit them on all the muscles.

“Nabla, Nabla,” says he, “them was the true words of Father Luke's when he said them would lend him a strapper would be repaid twofold. Here comes our own strapper back to us in company with a brave lump of a bullockeen. Faith,” says he, “Father Luke, you're the man for my money, and if ever ye want a strapper again, just tip me the word, and I'll go bail ye'll not want one long; and if ye want two, why, I'll steal one for ye.”