DRESSING, OR GROOMING 275 



ters and flank treated in the same way, the clothing being removed entii-ely 

 wliile this is going on. In the spring and autumn, wlien the coat is being 

 shed, the brush should never be used, and the wisp alone should be de- 

 jicnded on. Nothing spoils the look of the new coat so surely as the brush, 

 except perhaps the curry-comb; but this latter should not under any circum- 

 stances touch the skin of a horse when it is in proper order, and it is scarcely 

 necessary to forbid its use when the coat is being shed, at which time it 

 would be positively cruel, as well as injurious to the appearance. The 

 brush and wisp having effectually cleansed the skin, and given the hair 

 itself a certain amount of polish, the finishing stroke is put to the dressing 

 by means of the linen rubber, with the addition, in well-managed stables, of 

 the leather. Either or both of these in succession are steadily passed over 

 the surface in the direction of the hair of each part, and then the quarter 

 piece or rug, as the case may be, is replaced, taking care to throw it lightly 

 in front of its proper place, and then to draw it steadily backwards, so as 

 not to disturb the proper position of a hair. The roller is smoothly put on, 

 being first laid on the back double, and then the off side is turned over into 

 its place, when the straps being laid hold of under the belly, it is properly 

 tightened and the quarter piece smoothed beneath it. This completes the 

 dressing of the body, but there are several minor points still to be attended 

 to. A clean sponge is squeezed out, and with it the nostrils, ej^es, and 

 anus are sponged clean, and if necessary, the mane is damped, so as to 

 enable the groom to comb and brush it smoothly down on its right side. 

 The tail also is carefully combed out, beginning at the lower end if it is a 

 full one, and not touching the top until the bottom is smoothly arranged. 

 Lastly, the legs and feet are attended to, the stopping, or whatever may be 

 in the latter, being picked out, the legs washed if stained, and then carefully 

 rubbed dry. Many grooms, when they have white legs to keep clean, begin 

 the dressing by washing them, and then putting on flannel bandages ; they 

 leave them on till they have done the bod}^, when they are taken off and 

 the legs rubbed with the leather and linen rubber till they are quite dry, 

 finishing with plenty of hand rubbing if they are at all inclined to fill. All 

 this being done, the litter is put straight, and the horse is ready to have his 

 second feed. A good deal of muscular exertion, and laid out in the right 

 way, is necessary for the due performance of the groom's daily task. There 

 is ng royal road to make a horse's coat, when in work, really look well, and 

 not less than an hour's hard strapping will suffice for this daily. White 

 and light grey horses will take up even more time than this, as with all the 

 care that can be exercised the thighs and legs Avill occasionally become stained 

 by lying in the dung dropped during the night. Soap and water laid on 

 warm, and well rubbed, will get rid of a great deal of the brown colour 

 left, and if it is not suffered to increase by successive layers, it may be 

 removed with comparative ease. The slight tinge which remains may be 

 got rid of by the aid of washerwoman's blue, a bag of which is to be dipped 

 into clean water and the skin washed with this after the soap has been got 

 rid of. A little experience is required to ascertain the exact amount of 

 blue, but one or two experiments will soon teach an intelligent groom. 



"Whenever a horse is wanted to go out, he must again be wisped 

 over before his saddle or his harness is put on. The groom strips the whole 

 of the clothes off, turns him round in the stall, and carefully clears all the 



