278 THE HORSE 



unless the former are thoroughly dried afterwards, cracked heels and grease 

 will ensue. To leave the mud to dry on and be brushed off in the morning is 

 a laz}^ but safe plan. After scraping, the legs are rubbed and then bandaged, 

 the clothing is thrown on, and the dressing may be commenced as usual. 



In case the skin is wet from rain, whether the work has been fast or 

 not, it is seldom necessary to provide against a continuance of the moisture, 

 for the chill of the rain will generally prevent any tendency to break out in a 

 sweat. The horse is, therefore, at once taken into the stable, and, if very wet, 

 he is scraped ; after which he is rubbed over, and his clothing put on while 

 his legs are being attended to, by washing, bandaging, etc. The di'essing is 

 then conducted as in the case of the horse coming in sweating in cool weather. 



An exhausted horse demands all the resources of the groom's art, with- 

 out which he will suffer in more ways than one. An extreme case seldom 

 occurs, except in hunters, who require the greatest care to bring them round 

 after a severe run. On coming into the stable, if their powers have been 

 taxed to the utmost, and their ears are cold and drooping, the first thing to 

 be done is to get these warm by friction ; an assistant, in the meantime, 

 preparing some gruel, while another puts some Avarm flannel bandages on the 

 legs. It is wonderful what a restorative is found in the friction of the ears, 

 after a few minutes of which, a moderately tired horse will look quite a 

 different animal, evidently enjoying the process, and dropping his head to 

 the hands of the groom with the most perfect air of enjoyment. Where, 

 however, there is only one groom for the whole task, the bandages should be 

 put on first — that is to say, as soon as the clothing is thrown on ; then the 

 gruel should be given, and as soon as this is swallowed, the ears should be 

 warmed by friction. No attempt at dressing should be made till the gruel 

 is taken and the eai's are warm ; and if they cannot be restored to their 

 proper temperature, a warm cordial of ale and spices should at once be given. 

 Usually, however, there is no occasion for this ; and, after getting the 

 stomach attended to, the skin of the body begins to recover its natui'al 

 temperature, and the extremities become worm again. In the course of an 

 hour, the dressing may generally be effected ; but no time should be lost in 

 it, and the skin must not on any account be chilled. After it is done, a feed of 

 oats and a few split beans may be given, if the appetite seems inclined to 

 return ; but sometimes when the exhaustion is excessive, no solid food can 

 be taken with safety till the next day ; and gruel, with cordials, must be 

 resorted to as the only kind of support which the stomach will bear. 



CLIPPING, SINGEING, AND TRIMMING 



The coat of the horse is changed twice a year, the long hair of winter 

 coming off in April and May, or sometimes earlier when the stables are warm 

 and there is no exposure to severe cold. A slight sweat hastens this shed- 

 ding, as every horseman knows by experience, and even in harness the hairs 

 arc cast in the face of the driver to his great annoyance on a windy day. 

 Clipped horses are longer than others in shedding their coats, and present a 

 most disagreeable mottled appearance, which makes the state still more 

 noticeable. The long hair on the legs is about a month later in coming off, 

 and indeed it will not fall till Midsummer, unless some more violent means 



