COOLING 



bad for horses, as they are swallowed hastily and are apt to 

 injure the muscles of the stomach and intestines. It may 

 also be added, that if barley is given to a horse as food, 

 it is the common practice to boil it first, but barley is not 

 a suitable grain for horses in this country. (See Feeding, 

 Mashes.) 



Cooling". — The best way to cool down a heated horse 

 when he comes into the stable is to rack him up and, having 

 loosened the belly-band or girths and removed his tail from 

 the crupper, to let him stand for a few minutes. Then the 

 harness or saddle may be taken off and he may be lightly 

 gone over with a wisp, after which a thin loose cloth may 

 be put on him with a little clean straw under it to absorb the 

 moisture. Meanwhile, he must be kept well out of reach of 

 all draughts, and at the end of ten minutes or a quarter of 

 an hour he may be well wisped over and his clothing put on 

 him, for the dressing will make him warm and dry. Should 

 his ears feel cold when he first comes in they should be 

 pulled to restore their natural warmth, and if it is necessary 

 owing to the muddy state of the weather to wash his feet, 

 this may be done, but the legs and heels ought never to be 

 washed whilst the animal is heated, as doing so may assist 

 in producing mud fever. The only parts that water should 

 be applied to are the feet, the dock, the sheath, and possibly 

 the face, but all should be well dried. If the horse's legs 

 appear to be cold they should be well rubbed, and woollen 

 bandages may be put on them. Any mud attached to the 

 limbs can be easily brushed out the following morning when 

 they are dry. 



As regards watering a heated horse, the decided opinion 

 may be expressed that there is less risk connected with a 

 drink, in moderation, of cold water when he is very hot than 

 after he has cooled a little, and therefore he should be 

 allowed a few "go downs." Should he be reluctant to pass 

 his water he may probably be induced to do so by standing 

 him on some straw, and after he is dressed and made 



S9 



