27G THE HORSE 



dust away from tlie ears and head with the rubber ; then, proceeding regu- 

 larly backwards, the whole body is smoothed ovei', and the saddle and bridle 

 or harness put oi\. Lastlj^, the feet are picked, and an oil-brush is rubbed 

 over the outside of the hoofs, to gi-\'e them a neat appearance, when the 

 pillar reins are buckled to the bit on each side, and the horse is left till he 

 is wanted. 



Dressing after work depends upon the state in which the horse is 

 returned to the stable, when he may be cool and clean, or in a profuse 

 sweat still going on, or with his sweat dried in, or completely smothei-ed 

 with dirt, or wet from rain, but chilled rather than too hot ; or lastly, when 

 exhausted from a severe run or other hard work. 



When the horse returns cool and clean, the groom throws his rug 

 lightly over his quarters, and, taking a bucket and a brush, he proceeds to 

 pick and wash out the feet, standing on the near side, with his back to the 

 horse's head, so that he can use his left hand to hold the feet, and his right 

 for the brush. If the legs are quite clean, there is no necessity for washing 

 them at all ; but most grooms do so as a matter of course, and if they are 

 properly dried afterwards, there is no objection to the plan. Hunters, and 

 valuable horses of all kinds, are immediately protected by flannel bandages ; 

 but in ordinary stables the legs are merely partially dried with a rubber, and 

 are left in that state till the horse is dressed over. If the work has been 

 continued for more than four or five hours without feeding, it will be well to 

 put on flannel bandages, and let the horse have a feed of corn ; but, other- 

 wise, it is better to finish the dressing first. The cloth being removed, a 

 wisp of hay is taken in the hand, and first the head and neck, and then 

 the body, is dressed over ; finishing off with the rubber, as previously 

 described. The clothing is then put on, the legs thoroughly dried, the litter 

 put straight, and the task is finished. 



When brought in still sweating profusely, if the weather is warm, 

 the horse must be led about in the shade, rvith the saddle on, till he is 

 nearly or quite dry ; for if he is put into the stable before he is cool, he will 

 break out again as badly as evei', and if the saddle is removed the back will 

 become sore. A hemp halter is cooler and more handy than a head-collar, 

 and it is usually employed out of doors for all purposes connected with 

 cleaning. In the winter, this exposure to the air out of doors is not neces- 

 sary ; and, indeed, it would often be dangerous, the stable being generally 

 cool enough to stop all tendency to sweat, even with a light rug on. At 

 this season, therefore, after the legs are washed and the bandages put on, 

 which they should be whenever the horse is in a sweat, the dressing may be 

 conducted in the usual way, in the expectation, which will seldom be 

 disappointed, that at the end of half-an-hour's strapping, the skin will have 

 become quite cool, and will look all the better for the profuse cleansing which 

 it has received by means of the watery fluid given off by it. A scraper will 

 be necessary, which may be either of wood or metal ; and with tliis all the 

 superfluous moisture is at once scraped from the surface, which greatl}^ 

 facilitates the process of drying. Two men ought then to set to work, each 

 taking a side, and working first at the head, and then gradually backwards. 

 In this way, no part is allowed to chill, and the moisture is removed as 

 rapidly as possible. In the use of the wisp, the rubbing need not always 

 be hard ; and it should be chiefly against the direction of the hair till it is 



