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prietor of the horse if he were to insist and see that 

 his orders are really obeyed, that the fine coat in 

 which he and his groom so much delight, is produced 

 by hand rubbing, and not by a heated stable and 

 thick clothing, and most of all, not by stimulating or 

 injurious spices. The horse should be regularly 

 dressed every day, in addition to the grooming that 

 is necessary after work. 



When the weather will permit the horse to be taken 

 out, he should never be groomed in the stable, unless 

 he is an animal of peculiar value, or placed for a time 

 under peculiar circumstances. Without dwelling on 

 the want of cleanliness, when the scurf and dust are 

 brushed from the horse, they lodge in his manger, and 

 mingle with his food. Experience teaches that if the 

 cold is not too great, the animal is braced and invig- 

 orated to a degree that cannot be attained in the 

 stable, from being dressed in the open air. There is 

 no necessity, however, for half the punishment which 

 many a groom inflicts upon the horse in the act of 

 dressing ; and particularly on one whose skin is thin 

 and sensible. The curry-comb should at all times be 

 lightly applied. With many horses, its use may be 

 almost dispensed with ; and even the brush need not 

 be used very hard, or the points of the bristles so 

 irregular, as they often are. 



A soft brush, with a little more weight of the 

 hand will be equally effectual, and a good deal more 

 pleasant to the horse. A hair cloth, while it will 

 seldom irritate, and tease, will be almost sufficient 



