GROOMING 337 



ning a great hazard. Let him be carefully and re- 

 gularly worked for some days before hunting him, and 

 there is little danger of bad consequences following, if 

 gradually cooled and well groomed at the end of his 

 work. We would recommend the proprietors of horses 

 to attend themselves to this salutary and necessary 

 operation, as grooms but too frequently neglect it, or, 

 in many instances, injudiciously perform it. 



The above remarks are applicable to the horses 

 of the gentleman and tradesman, but those of the 

 agriculturist need but little attention, as they are 

 generally worked with moderation and regularity, and 

 hence are not predisposed to those diseases where a 

 different mode of treatment exists. 



GROOMING. 



Horses kept constantly in a stable should be 

 subjected to constant grooming. It is of the utmost 

 consequence to their health and appearance. The free 

 use of the currycomb and brush should never be 

 neglected, as the scurf which accumulates at the roots 

 of the hair, and stops the pores of the skin, will other- 

 wise prove injurious to the health of horses, by retard- 

 ing free perspiration. Horses which are turned out 

 in a field do not require grooming, as Nature provides 

 a means of removing the scurf. Besides, without 

 grooming, the coat of a horse will never have that 

 sleek appearance which so much heightens the beauty 

 of this fine animal. Lazy and careless grooms prefer 

 giving the coat that smooth texture, by keeping the 

 stable above that temperature which is safe for the 

 health of the horse. The use of the currycomb and 

 brush gives an increased action to the surface of the 

 skin, and accelerates the circulation in the external 

 vessels, which stimulates the animal and rouses all his 



Y 



