HORSES. 47 



being enclosed ; besides, it leaves a mark upon the 

 coat of a groomed horse, as bandages do upon the 

 foreleg, until smoothed away by hand-rubbing. Sea- 

 sand I have tried for the rough colts, in the loose 

 boxes, with fair success. There are veterinary stables 

 in Edinburgh where it is said to be regularly used 

 and approved. We should hope, however, for straw, 

 both on the horses' and the manure account. In 

 autumn and spring, when they are moulting, you 

 should keep your stud extra well, as they will be 

 found on trial to be then weaker than at other 

 seasons. The horse sleeps much less than the mare ; 

 when in health he does not rest more than two or 

 three hours together out of the twenty-four. Some 

 horses never lie down, but sleep standing ; this is 

 ruinous to the legs. Horses given to this practice 

 are clearly to be eschewed. 



