COLOR. 411 



parts sf our country, the short, and light and glossy coat of sum 

 mer gradually yields to the close and heavy, and warm clothing 

 of winter. In the deserts of Arabia, where the winter is rarely 

 cold, the coat remains short and glossy throughout the year. 

 These are wise and kind provisions of nature, and exoite our ad 

 miration.* 



COLOR. 



The color of the hair admits of every variety, and each color 

 becomes in turn fashionable. Like that of the skin, it is influ- 

 enced by, or depends on, the mucous mesh- work under the cuticle. 

 There are comparatively few perfectly white horses now remain- 

 ing. Tlie majority of white horses are those that have become 

 so. Light-grey colts begin to grow white before they are five 

 years old, especially if they have not much dark mixture about 

 the joints. 



Grey horses are of diflerent shades, from the lightest silver to 

 a dark iron-grey. The silver-grey reminds the observer of the 

 palfrey, improved by an admixture of Arab blood. He does not 

 often exceed fourteen hands and a half in height, and is round 

 carcassed — thin-legged — with oblique pasterns, calculated for a 

 light carriage, or for a lady's riding — seldom subject to disease — 

 but not very fleet, or capable of hard work. 



The iron-grey is usually a larger horse ; higher in the withers, 

 deeper and thinner in the carcass, more angular in all his propor- 

 tions, and in many cases a little too long in the legs. Some of 

 these greys make good hackneys and hunters, and especially the 

 Irish horses ; but they are principally used for the carriage. They 

 have more endurance than the flatness of their chest would pro- 

 mise ; but their principal defect is their feet, which are liable to 

 contraction, and yet that contraction not so often accompanied by 

 lameness as in m.any other horses. 



The dappled grey is generally a handsom.er and a better horse 



* Note by Mr, Spooner. — We must protest against the idea that a horse 

 v'ith a long coat, however fed and trained, is in as good condition, or capable 

 of as great exertion, as a horse with a sleek glossy coat. As M'ell may a 

 man with a great coat on attempt to run a race with another stripped al- 

 most to the skin. This fact it is which has led to the now general practice 

 of clipping or singeing, by which the coats of coarse-skinned horses are re- 

 moved, and the horses put on a par with sleek skinned animals, without the 

 necessity of very hot stables, and a long course of preparatory treatment. 

 The advantages of clipping are great; perspiration is considerably lessened, 

 the horse is soon brought into condition, and grooming is greatly facilitated, 

 without unnecessary irritation ; indeed, the quickest method is to wash the 

 skin while the animal is somewhat warm, with warm water (and soap if ne- 

 cessary), and then scrape the skin, and throw a horse-cloth on the body, 

 which, in the coui'se of ten minutes, will be found dry and comfortable. 



