478 WINTERING. 



for the horse's board will be as advantageous to the owner 

 as a matter of economy as it will be conducive to the com- 

 fort of the horse. If the question of intelligent supervision 

 is considered, the horse is best off in the care of a breeder. 

 The head servants in charge of country club stables are no 

 better nor more enlightened than they should be, but the 

 accommodations are usually very fair. Rather than intrust a 

 horse to rural sharks, it is more humane to chance the ani- 

 mal's fate at the auction mart. The charge for good board 

 varies between twelve and twenty dollars per month, depend- 

 ing upon the character of the quarters, the amount of food 

 and care given. All horses upon going out of active service 

 should have the amount of their work, fodder and clothing 

 gradually reduced, and not be suddenly transferred from one 

 condition to the other. Either the change should be instituted 

 before the horse leaves the owner's stable or by the person in 

 whose care the animal is left. The general custom is to allow 

 the horse to run rough without any grooming, a practice disap- 

 proved by many authorities and by the author, except when 

 the horse is exposed in cold and wet weather; the oily ex- 

 cretions then offer a protection to the body. Concerning 

 this matter, Lieut.-Gen. Sir F. Fitzwygram, in his book en- 

 titled " Horses and Stables," says: 



"Again, if health is to be preserved, horses which for eight months in 

 the year are accustomed to be groomed, ought to be groomed during the 

 remaining four. It is a fallacy to suppose that the horse, when thrown out 

 of work, does not require to be groomed. In reality, he needs it far more 

 for some months, than when at work." /. 83. 



The horse should have his shoes removed as soon as the 

 active exercise has been brought to an end and allowed the 

 freedom of a box stall, measuring, at least, lox 10. The 



