What was a horse singer?

[carolegif]

I was researching the family tree and came upon a site which contained stories from the Driffield Times. These are fascinating and range from 19th to 20th century reports.The occupation of a man convicted of being drunk and disorderly was that of a horse singer etc. I cannot find any information on this.
Please can anyone help?

carolegif

[Quizmonster]

It occurs to me that 'singer' might mean one who singes - ie burns lightly - rather than one who just sings! Having said that, I'm not sure why one would want to do such a thing to a horse. Perhaps bristly parts of a horse's coat had to be so treated, a bit as a barber might do to someone today?
It could, on the other hand, simply be a mis-spelling for 'ringer'. Mares used to be ringed, which involved having special rings fitted - don't ask me how! - to prevent them being mated. It's hard to imagine this as an actual occupation, however.

[carolegif]

If it is the burns connotation, could mean that he branded horses? Branding is an American word for marking horses, perhaps in Yorkshire they were singed!

[ludwig]

Maybe it's like a horse whisperer only louder.

[jno]

QM is right. Have a look here:

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=oqoCAAAAYAA J&pg=PA219&lpg=PA219&dq=horse+singed&source=we b&ots=wWcNpYrB19&sig=5MeTMQh9XczlNLWuhQBY8xJJh 70&hl=en

[carolegif]

Thank jno. It is amazing what some people did for a living. I suppose todays equivalent would be a car body sprayer!!

[Quizmonster]

Well, well well! Thanks for that, J. It was a complete stab in the dark as far as I was concerned...I just didn't think horse-singing was a very likely occupation! It still doesn't really - unless in a very large stable - as it seems to have been only an occasional requirement. But, we live and learn, indeed.