162 



they unfortunately, for any length of time, be under the care of a 

 silly fellow, they remain shy about the head, to the end of their 

 lives. Lately a friend of mine purchased a Horse, with his ears re- 

 cently trimmed. The groom had remarked that he was very shy. On 

 approaching him afterwards in the stall, in order to lay hold of his 

 head, the Horse reared and threw himself back with such force, as to 

 incur no small risk of breaking his neck, and the groom very narrowly 

 escaped mischief. I gave a strong caution to the young man, by no 

 means, to correct this Horse, but to treat him in the most tender and 

 soothing way, taking every opportunity to stroak his head and ears; 

 and this mild treatment had the full success. There are however, 

 hardy and rough-coated Horses, which have no fear of the lighted 

 candle under their jaws; but it should not be applied, even in that part, 

 to the fine-skinned, nor to the ears of any Horse, on whatever pretence. 

 The Horse in a state of nature, or at large in his pasture, is preserved 

 in full health and vigour, and in the perfect use of his limbs, by the pure 

 air which he freely and constantly inhales, and the gentle exercise 

 in search of his food, by which his muscular functions are kept in use, 

 and a moderate and equable circulation of his bodily fluids promoted. 

 It is the business of real, permit me to use the term, scientific groom- 

 ing, to follow nature's steps as closel}^ as possible in the stable, where 

 the subtitute of that indispensible bodily motion by which the Horse's 

 health is preserved abroad, must consist in the friction of regular dres- 

 sings, and in the exercise of regular airings. Every particle of dirt, scurf 

 or excrementitious matter, must be removed from the hide of the 

 Horse by the curry-comb, and from his coat by the brush. Not only 

 his back and sides must be the objects of this minute attention, but the 

 parts less in sight must have an equal share, and most especially, the 

 legs, by which only, they can be preserved free from that well known 

 consequence of half grooming, the Grease. The legs indeed, as high 

 as the knees, are always washed, with cold or warm water, as the season 

 or occasion may require, and ought to be wiped perfectly dry, with 

 linen cloths. 



. The hoofs of Horses which stand much in the stable, should be dail)^ 

 or several times a day if necessary, washed and well suppled in water, 



the 



