366 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



accelerates the circulation in the external vessels, which 

 stimulates the animal and rouses all his energies. Indeed 

 any one may perceive the salutary effects of grooming on 

 the spirits of the horse after this operation, which should 

 always be performed m the open air when the weather is 

 favourable, which braces the skin and conduces to health. 

 It however frequently happens that grooms in using the 

 curry-comb give too much pressure, and tliereby often 

 irritate the cuticle and give pain instead of pleasure to the 

 animal, especially to those which have thin skins. It 

 ought therefore to be used with gentleness, and a longer 

 time bestowed upon it. We also disapprove of a very hard 

 brush, and especially one which has irregular hairs on the 

 surface. A soft brush well applied will be equally effective, 

 and produce less irritation to the horse. 



After violent exercise, or a long journey, the legs of 

 horses should be well rubbed down both with the hand and 

 brush. This will prevent swelling, and even allay it if it 

 has actually taken place. 



CLOTHING. 



If stables are kept dry and all cross-draughts are avoided, 

 then the use of horse-cloths will be unnecessary. Nature 

 has given the animal a covering which perfectly fits it, to 

 prevent the necessity of artificial clothing while under a 

 comfortable roof. 



If a horse has been overheated, the true method to pre- 

 vent his taking cold when put in the stable is to rub him 

 well down with straw or hay until his skin is dry ; but if it 

 should so happen that the groom cannot possibly spare time 

 at that moment to attend to it, a cloth may be thrown 

 across his loins, until he is fairly cooled down, when it 

 should be immediately removed. 



