238 CYCLOPEDIA OF LIVE STOCK AND COMPLETE STOCK DOCTOR. 



the fetlocks, and the long hair of the lower limbs. They must be left 

 both dry and clean. 



The mane and tail should never be touched with anything except a 

 coarse-toothed horn comb, and the brush. Brushes are made especially 

 for this purpose. 



The feet should always be looked to and cleaned when the horse comes 

 into the stable. He may have picked up a nail, or graveled himself. 

 Whatever injury of this kind he may have sustained should be promptly 

 treated. 



XI. When to Groom. 



Every day, before going to work, the horse should be thoroughly 

 cleaned. If he comes in dirty at night, he should certainly be cleaned 

 before the master goes to bed. It is an open question among horsemen, 

 whether a horse should be washed when dirty. Our plan is to scrape the 

 body as dry as possible immediately, blanket in cold weather, bandage 

 the legs to keep them warm, and clean when dry. The tired horse should 

 never be placed in a draft of air to cool. If he do not cool kindly, he 

 wants a stimulant, hay tea or gruel. If necessary, he may be walked 

 about in the air ; it will both dry and refresh him, unless he be badly used 

 up. 



XII. General Stable Care. 



Of general stable care we have previously written. The animal should 

 have done for him what he cannot do for himself. It is poor economy to 

 be without any necessary article to properly care for the horse. The 

 ordinary tools have been already indicated. Proper tools for cleaning the 

 stable must be had, and proper implements for cleaning the horse are 

 quite as necessary. The drinking bucket should never be used for wash- 

 ing the horse. When not in use, both drinking and washing buckets 

 should be prevented from falling down. Keep them full of water, and 

 change when necessary, but never mistake the wash bucket for the drink- 

 ing bucket. 



A wheel-barrow is a most useful thing in the stable, and its uses are 

 also various about the place. The list of cleaning tools is a long one, 

 but a horse may be cleaned in the ^inost thorough manner with a good 

 curry-comb, a brush, a wet sponge, a wisp of straw and rubbing cloths. 

 A scraper should always be near for use upon sweaty horses^ A section 

 of a flat barrel-hoop will do very well at a pinch. 



Xm. Blankets and Other Clothing. 



The driving horse should have a summer and a winter stable-blanket, 

 and a summer and winter blanket for the street ; also a hood for the head 

 and neck, and other appliances for protecting the limbs, as bandages, etc. 



