OF FARRIERY. 



19 



the worse for it , and, I likewise noticed they 

 were not off their feed when the day was over ; 

 therefore, a Horse refusing his food under such 

 circumstances, I do not esteem a bad prog- 

 uostic. But it is very common for a Horse to 

 be off his food after any great exertion, and 

 this is by no means a pleasant circumstance, 

 especially to a true horse-man. 



After having racked with hay, you next 

 feed, as it is termed, that is serving the oats. 

 I proceed in the routine that is to be daily 

 observed ; for, were I to treat of things out of 

 this regular order, young hands might be 

 studying what they should do, and what 

 ought to be done first, and it is no uncommon 

 thing to see some, that have been in the stable 

 employment for a length of time, not know 

 what thing to do first, and occasion them- 

 selves trouble and loss of time, by going 

 wrong about things. Now, in serving the t;ats, 

 whatever is deemed a sufficient allowance for 

 the Horse, for the day, whether it may be 

 three quarterns or a peck, one-fourth of the 

 quantity should now be given : as sweet and 

 clean food is most agreeable to the Horse, as 

 well as beneficial, carefully sift the corn from 

 dust, blow away the chaff, and pick out any 

 thing you perceive is unfit or unpleasant, 

 which will sometimes be found among them, 

 frequently rat's dung and cat's dung, then 

 clear the manger with a whisp of hay or 

 straw, and throwing in the oats, spread them 

 with your hand, to prevent the Horse from 

 taking too greedy a mouthful at a time, 

 whereby he would be induced to swallow them 

 without chewing. 



While the Horses are eating this first feed 

 of corn, which you will recollect is to be 

 given immediately on your entering the stable 

 in the morning, prepare your saddles and 



exercising bridles ready lo take them out , 

 which being all ready and placed on for ex 

 ercise, give your Hcses a few go downs cf 

 water ; then, if it be an establishment of somo 

 considerable extent, give orders to the stabU 

 boy to make fair the stable during your ab 

 sence, in the following manner : (if it should 

 be a single Horse stable, this process may not be 

 required so minutely) ; first, throw all the dung 

 off the litter, clear out behind, then turn up the 

 driest and best of the litter under the manger, 

 the wet and muck you turn out behind ; this 

 being removed to the dung-heap, sweep clear 

 out, then, taking a bucket of water, wash the 

 stall out well; after the water is run and 

 swept away, take your bedding that has been 

 put under the manger, and place behind the 

 the horse's stall against the wall ; by doing so 

 you remove all the disagreeable smell that 

 may probably arise from the bedding being 

 allowed to remain under the manger, and in 

 all probability prevent your horse from being 

 affected with diseases of the eyes, glanders, 

 inflamed lungs, &c. &c. ; this being done, take 

 a little of the litter and shake in the stall, for 

 most Horses stale on first coming into the stable 

 from exercise, and this will induce them to 

 do so freely ; thus, you have your stable free 

 from any effluvia from the dung and urine. 



DIRECTIONS FOR DRESSING 

 HORSES. 



The stable being made clean, next com- 

 mence cleaning your Horses ; this is a work 

 that requires more knowledge and judgment 

 than at first appears. The curry-comb is the 

 first thing applied, and great attention should 

 be paid to its being applicable to the Horse, 

 some Horses require much of the currj'-comb, 

 otliers, none ; this depends on the state lh£ 



