94 CHAPTER 9. 



mouth from the bit. Most horses which are unsteady on being mounted, 

 have become so from having received such chucks. The saddle also is 

 less likely to shift from its proper position, when the rider is assisted 

 in mounting by having hold of the mane. 



179—180. Bedding. 



One great item in a horse's comfort, and consequently in his aptitude 

 to carry flesh, is a good bed. Every horse should be bedded down at mid- 

 day. Where straw is abundant, there is of course no difficulty in doing 

 this ; but where the allowance of straw, as in troop stables, is limited to 

 eight pounds a day per horse, there is some difficulty in combining daily 

 bedding down with good beds. 



As regards economy of straw, it is essential not to give the horse a 

 chance of eating it. With this view no fresh straw should be placed 

 within its reach. The fresh straw should be brought in first, and put 

 not merely at the bottom, but also in rear of the stall ; and then the old 

 litter should be brought in and put at the top and in front. The horse 

 will not readily eat it, and by the following morning the new straw will 

 have become somewhat tainted, and may then be mixed and dried along 

 with the rest. Servants, however, generally prefer to put the new straw 

 on the top, partly because it makes the stable look nicer, and partly 

 because it keeps the clothing cleaner. 



Again, great care should be taken in the morning to thoroughly shake 

 up and cleanse the bedding from dung, and any parts which may have 

 become rotten should be tlirown out. Good straw rapidly deteriorates if 

 these precautions are not taken. On the other hand, careless servants 

 often throw away along with the bad parts much good bedding, which 

 might be dried and used again. 



Bedding should be shaken up and turned over at least twice in each 

 forenoon, so as to expose every part to the drying and purifying influence 

 of the sun and air. It is, however, a mistake to expose it over-much to 

 the action of a very hot sun, as it makes it too dry and brittle. 



Every stable ought to be swept out perfectly clean eveiy morning, and 

 all bedding should be removed outside. The paving of the stables will 

 never be perfectly dry and sweet, unless it is exposed to the drying and 

 purifying influence of the air for at least four or five hours each day. 

 The cleanliness and dryness of the floor of the stable are essential items 

 in stable management. 



181. Of horses irhich eat their bedding. 



Some horses eat their bedding to an extent which is not merely incon- 

 venient on account of the difficulty of maintaining their beds, but which 

 is absolutely injurious to their wind. It is noticeable that horses doing 

 little work and standing idle during the greater part of the day are espe- 

 cially apt thus to gorge themselves. 



