23 



again were occasionally cut into notches, resembling the battlements of 

 a tower. The Armeiiiaus and Parthians had the custom of trimming 

 their Horses double-maned, by cutting the hair awayin the centre, which 

 occasioned it to divide and fall down, cloathing each side of the neck ; 

 a fashion not long since in use with coach-horses upon the continent. 

 The manes were also implicata, platted as at present, and sometimes 

 decorated with ribbons. The tails were left long and nicely combed. 



However the rude and uncivilized nations of antiquity, like the 

 modern Arabians, might neglect the duties of the stable, it stands upon 

 record, that they were very punctually and even skilfully performed 

 by the Greeks and Romans, and more particularly by persons engaged 

 in the business of the course, as in modern times in this country, the 

 jockey system ever has, and indeed necessarily will be, the most per- 

 fect, from the superior value of Race Horses and the degree of attention 

 shewn them. The Horses of the Greeks and Romans were nicely 

 and delicately groomed. For this purpose, instead of a curry-comb, 

 a glove or covering composed of the rough back of a palm-tree, was 

 fastened upon the hand of the groom, with which he rubbed and 

 polished the coat of his Horse. To remove the sweat after violent 

 exercise, they used a piece of wood in the form of a sword, precisely 

 the modern scraper employed upon the Race Horse when sweated. 

 Particular attention was paid to the mane, foretop and tail, which Avere 

 frequently washed and cleaned, oil being afterwards applied, to nourish 

 the hair, and to render it glossy and shining. 



After labour. Horses were washed in rivers or ponds, the most parti- 

 cular care being bestowed in cleaning their legs and feet, and so just an 

 idea had the ancients of the consequence of skilful and attentive groom- 

 ing, that the maxim was generally acceded to, in the days of Columella, 

 that it was m_ore beneficial to Horses, to be well and thorougly cleaned, 

 than to be largely fed ; and that without proper dressing, he cannot attain 

 that perfection of which he is capable : important truths on which 

 no modern horseman will hesitate a moment. Apuleius farther con- 

 firms the agreement in essentials, between ancient and modern practice. 

 He tells us, that perceiving his Horse to groAv faint on a journey, he 



dismounted. 



