144 THE HORSE 



horse, especially on a hot day, does not cool off well or 

 quickly. 



BRINGING THE HORSE IN COOL 



It is needless to say that a considerate driver will 

 slacken the pace for the last mile or two, so as gradually 

 to cool the horse. This is important, for if the horse 

 comes in with his blood heated, he will sweat in the 

 stable, and it will be a long time before he recovers 

 his normal condition. Moreover, the sudden cessation 

 of hard work suddenly reduces the circulation of the 

 blood in the feet, and that has a bad effect upon the 

 delicate laminae inclosed in the hoof. But the cooling 

 off process must be done with care. It does not mean 

 pulling up when near home, and walking your horse in 

 a cold wind. It means a slow trot, or alternate jogging 

 and walking, or walking simply, according to the 

 weather, and to the condition of the horse — always 

 remembering that it is far worse to bring him in 

 chilled, than to bring him in too warm. If, for any 

 reason, a fast pace must be kept up until the end of the 

 journey, the horse should be unharnessed when he 

 comes to the stable, and walked about for twenty 

 minutes at least, blanketed according to the weather. 



