THE CARE OF HORSES 209 



comb may be used on the body. In connection with the 

 grooming work, one should use a strong comb and brush for 

 putting mane and tail in order. A heavy sponge is always 

 useful for sponging off, and a strong linen towel makes a 

 most useful dust cloth for polishing -up the coat of hair. To 

 clean out the hoofs, one may use a pick of some sort, such as 

 a hay hook, for example. 



Clipping the horse is necessaiy to remove the long hair 

 in the spring, after it has begun to shed. Formerly this was 

 done with hand clippers, but it is now usually performed 

 with clippers propelled by machinery. Clipping is common- 



Figure 74. Brushing off the brood mare. Photograph by the author. 



ly done to get rid of the hairs which become annoying unless 

 clipped, shedding off as they do by degrees, and more or 

 less covering the clothing of persons driving. Vigorous 

 brushing is a help, but long, thick hair had best be removed 

 by the clippers. The horse feels better for it, there is less 

 danger with a wet coat of his taking cold, and the obnox- 

 ious loose hair is done away with. The long hairs within 

 the outer ear, which serve to keep out insects, should not 

 be cut off. It is also desirable to leave the hair on the 

 legs below knee and hock, for this gives protection to the 



