lo9 



more particularly suits horses of heavy work. In 

 the quietness of a dimly -lighted stable, they obtain 

 repose, and accumulate flesh and fat 



O rooming'. 



Of this, much need not be said to the agriculturist, 

 since custom, and apparently without ill effect, has 

 allotted so little of the comb and brush to the farmer's 

 horse. The animal that is worked all day, and turned 

 out at night, requires little more to be done to him 

 than to have the dirt brushed off his limbs. Regular 

 grooming, by rendering his skin more sensible to the 

 attraction of temperature, and the inclemency of the 

 weather, would be prejudicial. The horse that is 

 altogether turned out, needs no grooming. The 

 dandruff", or scurf, which accumulates at the roots of 

 the hair, is a provision of nature to defend him from 

 the wind and the cold. It is to the stabled horse, 

 highly fed and little or irregularly worked, that 

 grooming is of so much consequence. Good rubbing 

 with the brush, or the curry-comb, opens the pores 

 of the skin, circulates the blood to the extremities of 

 the body, produces free and healthy perspiration , and 

 stands in the room of exercise. No horse will carry 

 a fine coat without either unnatural heat or dressing. 

 They both effect the same purpose ; they both increase 

 the insensible perspiration ; but the first does it at 

 the expense of health and strength, while the second, 

 at the same time that it produces a glow on the skin, 

 and a determination of blood to it, rouses all the 

 energies of the frame. It would be well for the pro- 



