188 ON THE BREEDING OP HORSES. 



and dirt, but never permit one near the mane and tail. Rely 

 mainly on the brush and rough cloth for cleaning. Banish combs 

 from your stable. They tear out more hair in a day than will grow 

 in a month, and they ruin all the manes and tails that are ruined. 

 The tail should be washed with castile soap and water once every 

 week, and brushed with a wet brush every day in the year, holding 

 up the bone of the tail and brushing the hair from you. Half an 

 hour is enough for a good groom to one horse, but one hour's time 

 at the outside, ample to be very complete. City horses on dry 

 floors should have cow manure put into their feet once a week, to 

 draw out fever and keep hoofs growing. It should be put in over 

 night and allowed to wear out of itself. To conclude, always be 

 gentle about your horse's body, esjjecially his head. " More haste 

 less speed," is peculiarly applicable to grooming and breaking. 

 Use whips as little as possible ; use your reason and exercise pa- 

 tience and kindness, and instil by precept and example the same 

 useful lessons in those untutored creatures denominated grooms, 

 and if you cannot inculcate wholesome truths into their heads, you 

 can ameliorate the condition of that much abused animal, the horse, 

 by occasionally exemplying the power of their own treatment on 

 themselves. 



