274 THE HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICAL FARMERS 



ceased to steam and is somewhat cool — whicli will be in a quar- 

 ter of an hour — the hair will be dry and smooth on the f oIIoav- 

 ing morning. 



Some caretakers of horses use two stable blankets. One is 

 placed on the animal immediately after he arrives in the stable ; 

 this is removed in a quarter of an hour, being replaced by 

 another that is to remain on the animal during the night. This 

 is perhaps advisable in very cold climates, since the animal may 

 cool off too quickly if not given some protection on arriving at 

 the stable. 



The stable blankets may be dispensed with in hot summer 

 months if flies are excluded by screens or some other means. If 

 blankets are used at this time they should be of light material 

 and should be kept clean. As soon as the nights begin to be 

 cool the use of blankets should be resumed ; early use will mark- 

 edly arrest the growth of hair and occasionally will obviate the 

 necessity of clipping. 



The use of the outdoor blanket is as important as that of the 

 stable blanket. If the horse is allowed to stand outdoors for 

 either a short or a long time he should be well blanketed. In 

 very cold weather the blanket should be secured about the 

 abdomen by blanket pins. 



The proper use of fly blankets or fly nets brings much com- 

 fort to the horse. Whether it is better to use nets or blankets 

 Avill depend on circumstances. The blanket, being warmer and 

 less presentable, is not advised by many persons; there are 

 conditions, hoAvever, under which it appears very desirable, par- 

 ticularly on horses whose color fades on being exposed to the 

 direct rays of the sun. Nets are more presentable and there- 

 fore are more approved by horsemen generally. Both nets and 

 blankets are annoying to the driver, warm for the animal, and 

 more or less expensive. For these reasons they are often dis- 

 carded entirely, although their judicious use is often of advan- 

 tage to horses. 



Bedding. — Bedding should always be used liberally. A horse 

 at hard work needs rest at night, and much more rest is to be 

 obtained if the horse is given a good bed. The bedding should 

 not be permitted to become foul ; foul bedding not only will lessen 

 the comfort of the animal, but also will promote disease. Of 

 bedding materials, straAV proves the most satisfactory; when 

 high in price it may be replaced by other materials, such as 

 shavings from the planing mill, rejected pieces of cornstalks, 

 tanbark, or leaves. Old straw is preferable to new, being drier 



