274 THE HORSE 



him, or lastly, if he has been ridden or driven through dirty roads or over a 

 deep country. Each of these conditions will therefore require a sepai^ate 

 consideration. 



The usual morning's dressing is commenced either as soon as the horse 

 has done his early feed, or on coming in from exercise, if such is allowed or 

 enjoined. The utility of grooming after work cannot be denied, for it would 

 be absurd to contend that a horse coming in wet and dirty should be left in 

 that state till the next day ; but it is perhaps necessary to explain to the 

 idle groom that it is not a mere polishing of the surface of the coat which 

 is wanted, but a deep steady pressure of the brush into the roots of the hair, 

 so as to remove all the scurf which collects around them and clogs the pores, 

 through which the sweat ought to be allowed to exude freely. Practically 

 it is found that an hour's good strapping daily, not only gives a polish to 

 the coat, but it causes the secretion of a fine oil, which has a tendency to 

 throw off water, and thus may save the horse exposed to the rain from 

 catching cold. Moreover, it certainly stimulates the nerves so as to enable 

 them to bear exposure to the weather, which would otherwise tell injuriously 

 on an animal which is covered up with thick clothing indoors, and stripped 

 of everything, even of the long coat which Nature gives him, when he is 

 submitted to the "pelting of the pitiless storm." When the horse is turned 

 out to grass, he is washed by every shower of rain, and though his coat 

 continues to look dirty on the surface, yet the skin itself is braced by the 

 winds and cleansed by the waters of heaven. Not so, however, in-doors. 

 Here his clothing keeps his coat short, and keeps up a continual state of 

 insensible perspiration, the watery particles of which pass off through the 

 woollen rug or serge, leaving the salts and animal matters behind, as is 

 apparent on examining the internal surface of any clothing which has been 

 worn for any length of time without washing, when it will be found to be 

 lined with scurf, and matted with oily animal matters. There are many 

 drugs which will give a gloss to the skin, but they will diminish instead of 

 increasing its capability to bear exposure, and hence their use is altogether 

 forbidden by those who know their injurious effects. The horse which is 

 little used requires dressing to take the place of exercise, and if he has 

 plenty of good strapping, his coat will look like satin ; but the hunter and 

 the hack or harness-horse, exposed to all weathers, must be carefully 

 groomed and receive plenty of elbow-grease, or his coat will look hollow and 

 stand out like " the quills of the fretful porcupine " Avhenever he is allowed 

 to stand for a few minutes in a cool wind. 



The first thing which the groom does in commencing his morning's 

 task IS to turn the horse round in his stall, and fold the quarter piece back 

 upon itself, so as to expose the whole of the fore-quarters. Then taking his 

 brush in the hand nearest the head, whichever side he begins with, he 

 works away at the head and face till he has thoroughly cleansed those parts, 

 carefully clearing out the dust and dirt from the roots of the ears, where it 

 is very apt to lodge, and continually cleaning his brush with the curry-comb 

 held in the other hand. Next proceeding to the neck, he works at that 

 part in the same way, turning the mane over to the other side, and then 

 going to the shoulders, bosom, and legs, and finishing off with a wisp of hay 

 slightly damped instead of the brush. Having thoroughly worked at this 

 half of the body, the horse is turned round in his stall, and the hind-quar- 



