ENGLISH HORSES 59 



It is surprising in big livery-stables and where 

 a large number of horses are kept rather roughly, 

 how little attention is paid to picking out horses' 

 feet, washing them with water in which a few 

 drops of Condy's fluid has reddened the water, 

 and subsequently drying them. As often as not 

 the badly groomed horse has feet caked with 

 dirt, and the stench from each of their frogs is 

 disgusting. 



Where carelessness is to be met with in one 

 department it may be looked for in others. Bad 

 grooming is sure to mean unclean feet, which in 

 turn will cause disease and a vet's bill, meaning 

 the horse is a needless expense, and is unfit to 

 work. In the saddle-room the same slovenliness 

 is found ; rugs are filthy, harness dirty. Common- 

 sense in stable management is apt to be less 

 " common " than a horse enthusiast desires. 



In most cases of so-called accidents which 

 occur in stables, carelessness plays a big part. 

 A horse badly tied up gets loose and kicks 

 another. Another instance — extremely annoy- 

 ing — is when what was previously a useful 

 hunter, or nag, is so fresh from being kept in 

 the stable without exercise that it takes a liberty 

 when it finally is taken out, causes an accident, 

 and is virtually useless from fright at having 

 run away, when otherwise with good manage- 

 ment it would have been all right and behaved 

 itself. 



It seems impossible to din into obstinate people 

 that they must pay attention to the above. 



Take the case of tying-up. A careless groom 



