126 PUTTING INTO CONDITION. 



the legs from the knee downwards alone, till he 

 is watered ; or, if you like, till half an hour after 

 that, when the grain is given; then lay on the 

 hand-rubbers, and afterwards brush all smooth. 

 Wash his feet and heels lastly, if they must be 

 washed; but, unless they are dirty, it is quite 

 unnecessary. That abominable English custom 

 of washing a horse's legs when he first comes 

 in, and that often in cold water, tends to produce 

 windgalls, cracks in the heels, and contraction. 

 In the cold weather, it is true, it is generally 

 done with warm water ; but the rubbing and 

 scrubbing to dry the heels, and then the draught 

 of cold wind they are exposed to in a stable, is 

 apt to produce cracks as well. In India, once 

 every other day, when he is finished cleaning, 

 at four o'clock in the afternoon, is quite often 

 enough to wash his legs : the chill should be 

 taken oif the water in the cold weather. 



Should you be lately from England, you perhaps 

 have as great an aversion to wash your horse's body 

 as you have a predilection for washing his legs. 

 Some grooms have, I know, a great dislike, even 

 in the height of summer (the only time it is 

 asked), to wash a blood-horse all over : they 

 think it looks strange, and fancy it spoils his 

 coat. The poor post-horse gets the advantage 

 here, only that he frequently goes in hot. Do 



