92 CHAPTER 9. 



170. Best time for exercise. 



Though it is usual to take horses out in the early morning on account 

 of the time and trouble thereby saved, yet the really best time for exer- 

 cise is after breakfast. 



In the morning the servant is often late in starting and in a hurry to 

 get back to his breakfast. Hence the quantum of exercise is cut short. 

 Again, the climate in winter time is less bleak and cold at a later hour, 

 and the servant, having had his breakfast, can at once on his return get 

 to work at his horse. The animal too has then had his morning feed and 

 water some two hours or more, and is therefore more fit for fast exercise, 

 a point of some importance in the preparation of a hunter in the autumn. 

 The servant also has more time to clean out the stable properly in the 

 morning, and the master can better ensure a proper length of exercise. 

 Other reasons specially connected with grooming in favour of exercising 

 after breakfast have been already given in the chapter on that subject. 

 See also Chapter 8, on Exercise. 



Whilst the horses are at exercise, the doors and windows of the stable 

 should be thrown wide open, so that during that time the interior of the 

 building may get the advantage of a thorough change of air. 



171. Of dryimj horses, when very hot or wet. 



It is always an object of much importance to get a horse, which returns 

 very hot or very wet after hunting or other severe exercise, dried and 

 cleaned as soon as possible. Two or three men therefore should be set 

 to work at once on him. When the sweat is running off profusely a 

 scraper will answer better than a wisp or cloth. 



172. Warm laths. 



On exceptional occasions, when a horse returns from work more than 

 usually dirty, wet, or tired, there is no objection to washing him all over 

 with warm water, or giving him, as it is termed, a bath. After such 

 washing the horse should be thoroughly dried, and then warmly clothed 

 all over and flannel bandages applied to his legs. 



The warm water is probably refreshing at the moment to a tired 

 animal, and also soothing to any little irritation about the joints or other 

 parts ; but the chief object of this mode of cleaning off the outside dirt is 

 first to save the servant time and trouble, and secondly to enable the 

 horse to lie down and rest an hour sooner than he otherwise would. 



But though under exceptional circumstances such treatment may in the 

 first instance be beneficial, it must be remembered that water does not 

 really clean the skin of the horse. As soon therefore as the animal has 

 sufficiently rested, his skin must be cleaned by the application of the 

 brush in the usual manner. 



