a 



6i 



^6 ON THE CECONOMY OF THE. STABLE. 



" his very hoof, picking and dreffing them 

 very carefully about the fettocks, from gra- 

 vel and duft, which will lie in the bending 

 of his joints.'" 

 Nothing can be more obvious, than the 

 great benefits derived to the animal fyftem 

 from the faftitious exercife of this friftion, 

 which at once feconds the intentions of nature, 

 by aiding the general circulation, and cleanfes 

 the external furface from all impurities ; it is 

 faid to be equally beneficial to the operator, 

 and the labour of grooming has been warmly 

 recommended by phyficians to afthmatic pa- 

 tients, or thofe who labour under the defefts 

 of a confined chelt and impeded refpiration. 

 Without regular grooming it is vain to expeft 

 a horfe w^ill exhibit himfelf in his moft beauti- 

 ful colours, or be capable of his utmoft exer- 

 tions; in a word, that he will be in high 



CONDITION. 



Care fiiould be taken (by the mafter I mean) 

 that the curry-comb be not too fharp, or at 

 leaft not ufed in a rude and fevere manner, fo 

 as to be an objeft of torture and dread, in- 

 ftead of delight and gratification to the Horfe. 

 It is too often the fate of thin-fkinned horfes, 

 to fuffer much from the brutality t)f heavy- 

 handed and ignorant fellows, who. punilh with 

 hard blows every motion the irritated animal is 

 neceihtated to make, looking upon him as a 



mere 



