6o ENGLISH HORSES 



does not put on the head-collar sufficiently tightly, 

 or neglects to knot a rope, so when it slips 

 through the hole in the wooden weight which 

 ought to secure the horse, if the rope is through 

 the ring in the manger, the accident occurs in a 

 second — a loose horse in a stable where others 

 are secured. A kick or two may be the result, 

 and all on account of laziness on the part of a 

 man or lad who neglects his duty. 



An equally stupid piece of stable-carelessness 

 is when the groom is too slovenly in removing 

 droppings. His charges tread on their manure 

 or faeces, and it becomes impacted in their hind 

 feet — the result is that fcetid disease known as 

 thrush, the treatment of which I have given 

 under the heading of Common Diseases. 



Too much stress, therefore, cannot be laid on 

 tidiness, cleanliness, punctuality in feeding and 

 watering, on firmness with horses both in the 

 stable and outside. All these points are essential 

 to turning out race-horses, hacks, harness-horses, 

 polo-ponies, or cart-horses. 



Neat manes, too, as well as carefully trimmed 

 tails and good grooming, cause the occupants of 

 a stable to look as beautiful in their tidiness as 

 well-combed hair, well-kept hands and nails, and 

 carefully brushed hair is becoming to their masters 

 and mistresses in a well-arranged and orderly 

 home. 



A direct draught, too, is bound to cause colds, 

 in winter time especially. 



Overloading the stomach with too much food 

 and too little work is liable to cause colic. A 



