CHANGE TO OPEN AIR. 145 



hinder his galloping, but will prevent faintness. 

 Invariably walk the last mile to cantonment, 

 that he may return home cool, but never feed 

 until he has been in an hour, and well cleaned 

 above : then see that he has a cordial drink, 

 masallah ball, or some gram flour gruel ; likewise 

 the boiled food according to his liking is made, 

 to be given after * he has eaten about two maps 

 of dry ground grain ; that a small dhool of water 

 is offered half an hour before the dry grain is 

 put into the trough, and another half an hour 

 afterwards: see also that his legs are well ma- 

 lished while eating it, and that a good bedding 

 is placed under him, in a loose stall. These little 

 attentions after severe work are a horse's rights : 

 he is sagacious enough to comprehend and ap- 

 preciate them, and will amply repay you — if your 

 ugly conscience does not — by cheerfulness of going 

 the next time you require his services. When 

 the fetlocks and feet are so dirty as to require 

 washing, let it be done in warm (not too hot) 

 water, and see that the legs are well dried and 

 malished afterwards. If he refuses his food, it 



* The soft food at this late hour will produce a quick and 

 wholesome distention of stomach, which will induce sleep, 

 and prevent his standing two or three unnecessary hours to 

 produce it by eating dry grass, which, at this late hour of 

 night, is as bad for a tired as for a weak-stomached horse. 



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