228 GROOMING. 



The groom should now give his horse a feed of corn, 

 go to his own breakfast, and then take the horse to 

 exercise ; on returning to the stable he should remove 

 the exercising rug and hang it up to dry, if wet and 

 dirty. He should then commence cleaning the horse 

 as above directed, and, having finished, should put on 

 the day suit and rack the horse up ; taking care to 

 remove this suit just before bedding the horse up, which 

 causes a good deal of unnecessary dust, chaff, &c, 

 to adhere to this suit ; which should be well shaken, 

 brushed, folded up, and replaced by the night suit. 



In this way really good clothing will last many years. 

 But if clothing be used at all times and for all sorts of 

 work — for night, day, and exercising — the horse will, 

 during nine-tenths of his time, have to wear dirty and 

 wet clothing, which must be most injurious to the skin 

 and general health, in addition to the dirty and slovenly 

 appearance such clothing presents, not only to the 

 horses but to the whole stable. 



Every groom should be able to stitch sufficiently well 

 to mend the night suit when it becomes torn ; which 

 will frequently be the case from the great strain they 

 are usually put to, when the horse lies down, rolls, and 

 gets up again ; but if either the day or exercising suits 

 are torn, it is due to the carelessness of the groom ; for 

 if properly put on they need be subject to no strain 

 whatever. ' A stitch in time truly saves nine ' with 

 regard to clothing, and a small tear will soon become a 

 hopeless rent if neglected for any time. 



If saddles and bridles are dry when they come into 



