HEATED HORSES 



though they are so closely joined as to appear to be only 

 one. The right one feeds the lungs and the left one the 

 other parts of the body, the length of the heart being about 

 8 inches and the weight about 6| lbs. (See Arteries, Blood, 

 Capillaries, Veins?) 



Heated Horses. — The greatest care should be taken to 

 prevent a horse from taking a chill when he comes in heated 

 from work, and therefore if he cannot be properly attended 

 to at once he should be walked about if possible for a while. 

 After the harness is removed and hung up, if he is sweating 

 profusely the scraper may be used to get as much as possible 

 of the greasy perspiration out of his coat. On no account 

 should he be allowed to stand in a draught, as this is most 

 dangerous, and his body should be wisped dry after the 

 scraper has been used and he has been allowed to stand for 

 a while with a rug laid lightly over him. Some grooms 

 prefer to place a little straw on the back under the rug to 

 absorb the moisture, and the practice is a good one when 

 there is a heavy coat on the horse. If the ears are cold 

 they should be pulled, an i woollen bandages may be placed 

 loosely on the legs after they have been rubbed to keep 

 them warm. In hot weather, if it is desired, the whole body 

 may be sponged over with tepid water and then thoroughly 

 dried, particular care being bestowed upon the hollows 

 behind the pasterns ; but in the autumn, winter, and spring 

 the less water that goes on him the better, excepting on the 

 feet, dock, and sheath. The face also may be sponged over, 

 and all should be thoroughly dried afterwards, but care 

 should be taken to avoid wetting the belly or pasterns lest 

 mud fever or cracked heels should result. After the horse 

 has been thoroughly wisped over, and become dry and com- 

 paratively cool, his ordinary clothing may be put on him 

 and the woollen bandages changed for linen ones. Any 

 superfluous mud that is left on the body, belly, or legs after 

 wisping can be easily brushed out of the coat when the 

 horse is next dressed. (See Cracked Heels, Mud Fever?) 



162 



