172 tSERVICE. 



Hence, working horses kept very much in very cold stables are 

 lean and dull. 



It is chiefly the horses that have to stand in the weather, 

 which require preparation for exposure. Bleeding, purging, 

 and other means, which debilitate or emaciate, are never neces- 

 sary in this process. Hunting, stage-coach, and cart-horses 

 seldom require any preparation for exposure, as they are in 

 motion from the time of leaving the stable till their return. 

 They only require to be well and quickly dried when wet. 



New horses are very liable to have the skin injured by thq 

 harness. The friction of the saddle, collar, or traces, prO' 

 duces excoriation. In some horses this is altogether unavoidr 

 able, especially when they are in poor condition. Their skin 

 is tender, and a little chafing exposes the quick. In all 

 horses it is some time before the skin thickens, and becomes 

 sufficiently callous to carry the harness without injury. The 

 time required to undergo this change varies materially, and 

 cannot be much shortened by any means. Attention to the 

 harness, however, will frequently prevent excoriation. After 

 every journey, the neck should be closely examined. If 

 there be any spot, however little abraded, hot and tender when 

 pinched, that part of the collar which produced it should be cut 

 out before the next journey. The guard, or safe, is a useful 

 article to prevent galls of this kind. It is merely a thin slip 

 of soft leather, covering the seat of the collar. It obviates 

 friction, and prevents injurious pressure from any little protuly' 

 ance or hardness in the stuffing of the collar. On the firsc or 

 second journey a new horse often comes in with his neck some- 

 what inflamed ; it is hot, tender, and covered with pimples. 

 Xa the stables it is said to be Jired, A solution of commoa 



