GHOOMING. 95 



or leaving on the saddle or harness until an opportunity arrives 

 for grooming him ; or, better still, he may be exercised for a 

 short time, so as to prevent what is called a chill. When he 

 can be attended to, the legs should be first well dried, and then 

 bandaged, a blanket being thrown over the body meanwhile ; 

 when all the legs have been so treated, the body may then be 

 groomed, and when this has been finished, if necessary, the 

 bandages may be removed from the legs, and these thoroughly 

 brushed out. It is very dangerous to allow the skin to dry by 

 simple evaporation, and especially in a cold or draughty stable ; 

 as pleurisy, bronchitis, and inflammation of the lungs or intes- 

 tines are very often the result. 



To groom a horse properly requires a considerable amount 

 of time, and much skill and exertion ; it is therefore necessary, 

 unless grooms are very trustworthy, that owners of horses 

 should know when their horses are groomed, and should also 

 see that it is done thoroughly. A well-groomed horse gives 

 evidence of the fact in the clean, shining, and healthy appear- 

 ance of the coat, and if the hand be rubbed against the hairs 

 it is not soiled by them. If, on the contrary, the horse is not 

 well groomed, the coat will be dull, staring, and unsightly, and 

 patches of dirt may be seen upon it, while if the hand is pushed 

 up through it, it will be covered with a white greasy film, and 

 if the animal has perspired, scurf and dirt will be observed 

 where the saddle or harness have been ; while an examination 

 of the points of the hips and shoulders, the sides and points of 

 the hocks, the roots of the hairs of the mane, tail, and fore- 

 lock, will yield further evidence. When the legs must be 

 washed, which sometimes happens, as when very muddy, or 

 with white and grey -legged horses, they should be thoroughly 

 dried immediately after, and wrapped in flannel bandages. 

 Some grooms are greatly in favour of washing the body and 

 legs, but unless in special cases — as when the skin is extremely 

 greasy or dirty — this cannot be recommended. It is much 



