412 NAVIX ox THE HORSE. 



at the time it takes place, no evil will result from it. The 

 only thing necessary is to see that the horse has proper food, 

 which should be, for this time, of a kind easily digested, and 

 not quite so much in quantity as usual. He should be fre- 

 quently rubbed, and but moderately brushed, and the curry- 

 comb should not be used on him at all. The thin coat will 

 not permit harsh raking. 



He should not be worked hard, nor in any way overexer- 

 cised; for the thinness of his coat, at this time, and the 

 greater activity of the skin will certainly render it much 

 easier for him to take cold. Spices, undoubtedly, will hasten 

 the process of shedding, but they are unnecessary, and may 

 do very great mischief. They should not be given. If, how- 

 ever, the horse does not shed at his proper season, it will be 

 owing to some existing disease or ailment. A careful exam- 

 ination will discover it, and the proper treatment should be 

 made use of to cure it. 



CUj^inng or shaving the hair, to give the horse the appear- 

 ance of a thin coat, is sometimes practiced. It certainly does 

 the horse no good, and may prove decidedly injurious to him. 

 It is one of those instances in which man "imitates nature 

 abominably." 



COLOR. 



The color of the hair is produced by the middle layer of 

 the skin, called the rete mucosum. It affects the health of the 

 horse only in so far as horses of certain colors are generally 

 hardy, while those of other colors are soft and washy. Some 

 colors also seem to be peculiarly liable to certain diseases. 

 But the color has much to do in determining the value of the 

 horse in market, and hence its consideration is of peculiar im- 

 portance. Almost every color has at times been fashionable. 

 But there are some colors which, though they may at times 

 be out of fashion, are never out of good taste with good judges 

 and common-sense people. 



