STABLE MANAGEMENT. 59 



Curry combs.— 'Y\\t service pattern of curry comb consists of several Curry 

 straight, blunt toothed blades in a metal back, with a broad loop of combs, 

 webbing for the purpose of securing it on the back of the hand. It is 

 essential that the teeth should be smooth and blunt, and in the service 

 pattern they are rounded at the top and bottom. This prevents the bristles 

 being unduly worn away when the comb is used to clean the body brush, 

 and also guards against injury to the skin when used for the removal of 

 dirt. Other patterns have wooden handles, and some have a series of 

 curved springy blades, instead of the straight rigid ones usually met with. 

 At the sides small projections of the blades are seen on many patterns 

 for the purpose of knocking on the ground when dislodging dirt from the 

 back. 



Use of the curry comb. — In the service the use of the curry comb on Use of the 

 the skin is generally prohibited, and its utility is confined to cleansing curry 

 the body brush of scurf. To effect this, only an occasional rub on the comb, 

 brush is necessary, but its use is much abused by lazy men, who make a 

 great show of cleaning the brush and do little work with it on the skin, 

 the result being that the brush is quickly worn out. The dirt should be 

 dislodged by knocking the side of the comb on the floor behind the 

 horse, where it can be seen and swept up, and is evidence of the man's 

 diligence. Blowing the scurf out of the comb is a dirty plan which is 

 not to be practised ; it results in the dust being breathed by the horses 

 or settling again on the coats from which it has just been removed. 



Outside the service the curry comb is a recognised instrument of 

 grooming. With light horses its use is as a rule limited to the removal 

 of caked dirt and mud, but with vanners and in commercial stables 

 generally the animals are groomed all over with it, and subsequently 

 brushed with a dandy brush. 



The method has a good deal to recommend it where time is an 

 object ; it is quick, effective, does not in any way injure the skin, and 

 seeing that this is the case, some discretion may be allowed in its 

 employment. 



Water brushes are made of longer, finer, and softer bristles than body Water 

 brushes. They are intended for damping the mane and tail, and brushes, 

 washing the feet and legs ; but they are often used dry for grooming fine- 

 coated, ticklish horses, and are certainly very useful for grooming the 

 head and face. When employed for washing feet, their use should be 

 confined to the hoof only, wetting of the legs being prohibited as a 

 routine. 



Dandy brushes are made of stiff v/hisk fibre. Outside the service Dandy 

 they are in general use as a grooming brush, and, as a matter of fact, are brushes. 



