336 NAVIN ox THE HOESE. 



order to preserve his health, secure his comfort, and render 

 him most iisefuL I shall not endeavor to describe the many 

 ojoerations which the regular groom is accustomed to perform 

 on the fine sporting-horses or valuable stallions. Few of our 

 farmers can afford to keep even one groom to attend their 

 horses ; but a small amount of time can be devoted to the horses 

 each day. Justice and humanity to the horse require that he 

 should receive more care than is often bestowed on him. 



Bedding the Horse. — Straw is generally used for this purpose. 

 It may be kept in an empty stall, the loft, or any place where 

 it can be conveniently reached. After the horse is removed 

 from the stall in the morning, the dung and wet straw should 

 be taken up and throAvn out on the dung-heap. The dry straw 

 may be thrown forw^ard under the manger. When the horse is 

 brought in at night, the bed is made down, using enough fresh 

 straw, so that wdth that left dry the previous night a comfort- 

 able bed from six inches to a foot deep may be spread for the 

 horse. This should be spread even and smooth, so as to leave 

 no lumps under the horse when he lies down. Good bedding 

 should never be neglected; it takes but little time, and is of 

 the greatest advantage to the horse. The habit of letting the 

 horse lie on a heap of dung from week to week, or even longer, 

 is cruel and injurious, and has no excuse except in ignorance 

 or laziness. 



Grooming refers to those operations which have for their 

 object the cleaning of the horse. But the duties of the groom 

 are generally made to embrace much more. The farmer is 

 usually his own groom. The essential tools for cleaning the 

 horse are the curry-comb, the brush, and wisp or wisps of straw? 

 Many others may be used, as sponges, combs, towels, skins, 

 rubbers, scissors, bandages, pails, forks, brooms, etc. 



Dressing before Work. — Before the horse is harnessed for the 

 day's work, he should receive such a dressing as will clear the 

 coat of any dust or dandruff in it, and excite the skin to a 

 pleasant glow, so that the insensible perspiration will go on 



