GROOMING. 93 



protect them from the cold and the wet ; but dirt of every 

 description should be removed from the surface, and all 

 loose dandriff brushed from amongst the hair. With regard to- 

 the grooming of farm horses, Reynolds recommends that they 

 should not be curry-combed, but brushed and well wisped over 

 before being turned out to work, and again on completion of 

 their day's labour. After being stabled wet, from rain or 

 perspiration, the skin must be thoroughly dried, and at supper- 

 time a brisk dry wisping instituted to determine increased 

 surface-circulation, and promote a feeling of warmth and 

 comfort for the night. For hardening the backs and shoulders- 

 of colts recently put to work, and of horses having irritable 

 skins, a free application of salt and water to the saddle and 

 collar-seats is beneficial. 



Many persons advocate clipping the hair from the legs of 

 heavy horses, a practice highly pernicious, and one to be con- 

 demned in the strongest terms. Hair is the natural protector 

 of the cuticle, and is especially required to warm and shield 

 the delicate skin of the heels ; its removal from these situa- 

 tions is certain to induce a predisposition to ^^ grease " and 

 other equally serious consequences. If the legs are muddy on 

 return from labour, they should be dried as far as practicable,, 

 and the adherent clay subsequently removed with a hard brush. 

 The application of the thinnest possible film of pure neatsfoot, 

 oil to the surface of the hair of the legs will prevent the 

 adhesion of clay, but it should only be used when absolutely 

 necessary. Opinions vary upon the desirability of washing tho 

 legs of cart horses. As a rule, the practice is unnecessary and 

 injudicious ; but when the legs have become thoroughly satu- 

 rated during labour, there can be no further harm occasioned 

 by washing off any mud which may also have accumulated 

 amongst the hair. It must, however, be regarded, as essential 

 to proper management, that under no pretext is a horse to be 

 left for the night until all his legs have been thoroughly 



