94 THE PRACTICAL HORSE KEEPER. 



dried. Nor is this precept very difficult of execution ; a hand- 

 ful or two of light wood sawdust rubbed for a few minutes 

 well into the hair will absorb all moisture from the most 

 hirsute legs, aflfording not only a sense of comfort to the animal, 

 but preventing those undesirable consequences engendered by 

 continued application of cold and wet to the extremities. 



The iron curry-comb should never, as a rule, be applied to 

 the skin of horses. For long rough coats, nothing is better 

 than a good dandy-brush to remove dandriff, dust, and dirt; 

 for finer-coated horses, a good bristle-brush suffices, and the 

 use of this may be advantageously supplemented by the wisp 

 and rubber ; indeed, for some extremely thin-skinned, fine- 

 coated horses, the two latter are generally found sufficient, 

 provided the groom applies them energetically and efficiently. 



In India, the syce or groom rarely resorts to anything else 

 than the palms of his hands and the sides of his arms up to the 

 •elbows, in order to make the coat shine. Whatever may be 

 used, it is necessary that the hair be worked in its natural 

 direction, and the surface of the skin must be well acted upon. 

 The times at which grooming should be performed must vary 

 with convenience ; the horse ought to be groomed, if possible, 

 early in the morning, and either immediately after the stable 

 has been cleaned out, or after that has been done and the horse 

 exercised. Grooming is undoubtedly best performed imme- 

 diately after exercise, as then the skin is in a much better 

 condition for being cleaned ; and the cleaning should extend 

 from the face to the heels, and include thorough brushing of 

 the forelock, mane, and tail, with sponging of the nostrils, lips, 

 •eyes, and beneath the tail, as well as washing the hoofs. 



If the horse is heated, or is wet from perspiration or rain, 

 lie should on no account be allowed to remain undried for 

 any length of time ; but if he cannot be attended to imme- 

 diately in a proper manner, he may either receive a temporary 

 wisping of the body and legs, or clothing and bandaging these, 



