2 1 6 HORSEMANSHIP. 



soap ; then thoroughly dry with a sponge and coarse cloth, 

 putting on warm woollen bandages to prevent chill. I 

 prefer cloths and bandages made of peat-wool, a new 

 manufacture, the fabric being so very absorbent. The 

 saddle should not be removed, only the girths loosened, till 

 the back be cool and dry. If, on the saddle being taken 

 off, the part of the back on which it has rested be quite dry, 

 save on one or two distinct isolated spots, the numnah, or, 

 in the absence of that saddle-cloth, the stuffing of the saddle 

 should be carefully examined, for these patches indicate 

 galls. After a hard day's work, the main object is to get 

 the horse dry and comfortable, with the least possible fuss 

 and delay, so that he may rest. The coat, when saturated 

 with rain or perspiration, should first be scraped and 

 thoroughly rubbed dry with relays of large soft straw wisps ; 

 that done, the horse should be clothed and left to himself. 



In " dressing " a horse a stiff body-brush is generally em- 

 ployed, but the hardness of this brush makes all the dif- 

 ference to the animal. Many high bred horses having very 

 thin and highly sensitive skins, are ticklish in parts, and are 

 unable to bear a sharp penetrating bristle. This is very 

 generally the case with high caste Arabs, who are pro- 

 verbially " thin-skinned." ]Many a horse is often made 

 vicious by the application of a too hard brush. I approve 

 highly of the glove, much used in India, made of cocoa-nut 

 fibre, which has an excellent effect on the skin. 



A strong strapper should work at least an hour a day on 

 each horse as soon as possible after the usual exercise and 

 work. 



Should a horse be given to biting during the process of 

 cleaning, put in his mouth a large wooden bit, or a chain 

 bit covered over with rubber. It must be of such diameter 

 that he cannot close his mouth on it. 



