TREATMENT AFTER A HARD RUN 193 



them gently down to their proper place, for the reason 

 before mentioned. The roller and breast-plate being 

 buckled, a hood, or a linen rubber, should be thrown 

 over the quarters. Nothing looks so awkward as to 

 see a groom pulling a horse's clothes in an opposite 

 direction to his coat, which must be the case if he 

 puts them on lower down, or nearer to the tail, than 

 he intends them to remain. In general the head and 

 neck are dressed before the body is stripped, for which 

 purpose the horse should be turned round in his stall ; 

 and when his legs are rubbed, first with straw and then 

 with the hand, the toilette is completed. 



When a groom who knows his business has stripped 

 a horse, he should feel him, to judge how he is getting 

 on in his condition, and whether he be getting his 

 flesh on the right points. Having satisfied himself 

 on this head — having stripped himself (that is to say 

 if he be a working groom) — he sets to work to dress 

 him — an operation in which some greatly excel others. 

 There is, however, no harder work than dressing a 

 horse as he should be dressed — taking into account 

 the atmosphere in which the workman breathes. 



A good dressing to a horse is, I have reason to 

 believe, a far greater benefit than we are apt to give 

 credit for. It produces an afflux of blood to the surface, 

 promotes a general circulation of the system, gives 

 elasticity to the lungs, and greatly assists wind and 

 digestion. The brush, when vigorously applied, has 

 a medicinal effect on the spiracula of the skin — a 

 great relief after sweating. It must resemble the 

 benefit derived from the use of the flesh-brush to the 



