Coach Strapper
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BrainA
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:27 am
- Location: Edinburgh. Scotland
Coach Strapper
Looking at the OPR for GGfather's birth record in Latheron (1853), I noticed the occupation for two males given as 'Coach Strapper'. Anyone know what a Coach Strapper did?
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Currie
- Posts: 3924
- Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:20 am
- Location: Australia
Re: Coach Strapper
Hello Brian,
From “Stable Economy: A Treatise on the Managements of Horses” page 74. Published 1852. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=dI ... er&f=false
“Strappers.—The men who look after horses at livery, and those employed in public conveyances, are termed strappers. They have nothing to do with the working of the horses. Their business is to dress, harness, water, and bed them. They also have to keep the harness in order. In some places they have to feed and exercise the horses; in others, these duties are performed by a headman and his assistant. A strapper should be expert, able, and orderly at his work. He usually looks after eight horses, four of which are out every day. Some have more; but, with the harness, eight is about as many as he can be expected to keep in good order, especially during the winter months—and this number he may manage in the best style which coaching requires. In livery stables the horses need more grooming, and three saddle-horses may be sufficient work for one man. In some places, however, he has four or five, and occasionally more.
The strappers employed at out-stages should be picked men, better paid and better qualified than those who work at headquarters, under the eye of the master or his foreman. But the best are not to be much trusted. They should be visited often, at irregular intervals, without warning, and not at one time of the day more than another. The horses should be examined in reference to their condition for work, the state of the skin, the heels, and the feet. The harness, the stable, every part of it, and everything belonging to it, should pass under review every now and then.”
In all the British and other newspapers I can access the few references to a “Coach Strapper” that I can find are in Scottish ones. The earlier references, 1859 and 1861, were in the John o' Groat Journal and were Mail Coach Strappers.
All the best,
Alan
From “Stable Economy: A Treatise on the Managements of Horses” page 74. Published 1852. https://books.google.com.au/books?id=dI ... er&f=false
“Strappers.—The men who look after horses at livery, and those employed in public conveyances, are termed strappers. They have nothing to do with the working of the horses. Their business is to dress, harness, water, and bed them. They also have to keep the harness in order. In some places they have to feed and exercise the horses; in others, these duties are performed by a headman and his assistant. A strapper should be expert, able, and orderly at his work. He usually looks after eight horses, four of which are out every day. Some have more; but, with the harness, eight is about as many as he can be expected to keep in good order, especially during the winter months—and this number he may manage in the best style which coaching requires. In livery stables the horses need more grooming, and three saddle-horses may be sufficient work for one man. In some places, however, he has four or five, and occasionally more.
The strappers employed at out-stages should be picked men, better paid and better qualified than those who work at headquarters, under the eye of the master or his foreman. But the best are not to be much trusted. They should be visited often, at irregular intervals, without warning, and not at one time of the day more than another. The horses should be examined in reference to their condition for work, the state of the skin, the heels, and the feet. The harness, the stable, every part of it, and everything belonging to it, should pass under review every now and then.”
In all the British and other newspapers I can access the few references to a “Coach Strapper” that I can find are in Scottish ones. The earlier references, 1859 and 1861, were in the John o' Groat Journal and were Mail Coach Strappers.
All the best,
Alan
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BrainA
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:27 am
- Location: Edinburgh. Scotland
Re: Coach Strapper
Thanks for that Allan. The reference in the John O' Groat Journal is interesting as Latheron is not far from there.
Regards Brian
Regards Brian