STABLE OPEEA.TIONS. 337 



freely during the day. This is effected almost entirely with 

 the brush, which is taken in one hand, the curry-comb being 

 held in the other. The face and muzzle are first brushed, and 

 then the neck, shoulders, body, and quarters, and then the legs. 

 The brush is frequently brought across the teeth of the curry- 

 comb to clean it of dust. The brushing should be continued 

 until the coat is perfectly clean. The legs should receive par- 

 ticular attention, and always a good hand-rubbing or rubbing 

 with fine straw. The mane and tail may be carefully untan- 

 gled and brushed, or combed with a coarse horn-comb, used for 

 that purpose. A wisp of straw may last be used to polish the 

 surface. 



Dressing after Work. — During the day's labor the horse may 

 sweat frequently, and the hair become much stuck together by 

 the sweat, dust, and dandruif, or he may become very muddy, 

 especially his legs. In this case, the operation of cleaning is 

 more laborious, and should be performed as soon as the horse 

 is brought in, or as soon as he is cooled, if he has been very hot. 



The use of the curry-comb is not so much for cleaning as for 

 scraping the dust out of the brush at every stroke or two. It 

 may be used when the hair is stuck together by sweat and 

 dust, to raise and separate the hair and prepare it for the 

 brush, and for loosening dried dirt; but on the legs it must, 

 be used very gently for this purpose. The brush is to be^ 

 chiefly relied upon for cleaning the dry horse, but hand-rub- 

 bing the legs, face, head, and ears must not be neglected. If' 

 a horse is brought in, in a "lather of perspiration," and hot,, 

 he should be walked until cool, before being put in the stable.- 

 The sweat may then be scraped off, and the horse rubbed with, 

 wisps of straw until dry. This exercising and rubbing pre- 

 vents him from taking cold. The legs, especially, should be 

 well dried. 



If the horse is very muddy, he is often washed to take oflf 

 the mud. Some ride him into a stream for this purpose- 

 Others use a sponge and washing-brush. Many are much 

 22 



