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In grooming, a certain time should be laid down as a 

 rule, and devoted to the horse systematically, supported 

 by a good share of elbow grease. The business of 

 grooming must not be skipped over at any time, but the 

 horse should be thoroughly cleaned from head to croup, 

 not merely polishing the most conspicuous parts, 

 and slipping over what may pass muster with the inex- 

 perienced or careless owner, for it must be borne in mind 

 that the genuine horseman cannot be deceived. 



The groom commences first by using curry-comb 

 with great caution. If the horse is long coated the 

 curry-comb may be applied pretty freely, but if the steed 

 be clean coated, thin skinned, and of nervous temperament, 

 very delicate manipulation is essentially necessary, and in 

 fact the comb is dispensed with altogether. Some grooms 

 merely use the curry-comb for the purpose of cleaning 

 and dusting the brush. 



The entire art of grooming a horse consists in 

 cleaning the dirt from its hide, whisping, brushing, wiping 

 down with a cloth, combing the mane and tail, sponging 

 the croup, eyes and mouth ; examining, picking, and if 

 necessary washing the feet, rubbing the legs and ears, ad- 

 justing the head-collar, clothing, and body roller, all of 

 which promptly and quietly, and without the hissing on 

 the part of the groom so frequently to be heard in stables, 

 and which hissing it should be remembered is neither 

 musical to the horse nor healthy to the operator. 



The stable requisites are pitch-fork, shovel, broom, 

 manure basket, body brush, water brush, weed or 

 whalebone brush, scraper, mane comb, curry-comb, 

 hoof-picker, chamois leather, compo-brushes, sponges, 

 bucket, corn measure, sieve and server, poultice boot, 

 sponge boot, dusters, bandages, (linen and woollen) 



