GROOMING.] 



MODEEN VETEEINAEY PEACTICE. 



[UUOOMINO. 



horses in a wicked manner, with whatever in- 

 strument might he in their way ; sometimes 

 the corners of tlie curry-comh, the broom-stick, 

 twitch-staff, or even the stable-fork. "We have 

 heard of a groom, who, in a fit of rage wliilst 

 stopping a horse's feet, for which he had a 

 small trowel, actually drove it into the animal's 

 side between two of his ribs. The person who 

 looks after horses should be industrious, and 

 not sparing of his labour at any hour or season ; 

 for horses require much attention to make 

 them fresh and comfortable ; and if a groom is 

 sparing of his labour, they will soon show it, 

 as there are few kinds of work harder than 

 grooming a horse properly. It is true, that 

 an indolent groom may escape censure or com- 

 plaints of persons not very particular or dis- 

 ceruing; but those who are judges cannot be 

 imposed on. The appearance and condition of 

 the animal will discover itself, and cannot 

 escape their notice : for when a person knows 

 that everything is allowed to keep his horses 

 in proper condition, and also Jciwivs lohen his 

 horses are in the condition in ivhich they ought 

 to he, he will never be satisfied to see them 

 otherwise. 



There is no good groom that has not a pride 

 in seeing, not only his horses, but everything 

 in his department in the first style of condition 

 and cleanliness. "Where this disposition exists 

 all goes well. Confidence is inspired, and a 

 trust, which otherwise might be withheld, 

 freely and voluntarily reposed in him, regard- 

 ing all that appertains to his system of man- 

 agement. With these natural qualifications 

 there are practicable requirements, which, with 

 attention, observation, and an apt capacity, 

 may easily be acquired. 



The grand aim of a groom ought to be to put 

 his horses in what is called condition : let us, 

 therefore, consider what is meant by condition. 

 This word is variously applied to the state of 

 the horse, though widely dififerent from what is 

 here implied. Eor instance, we say, a horse is 

 in condition for sale ; that implies he is in 

 flesh, his legs clean and fresh, his coat decently 

 fine, and perfectly sound ; a horse may he all 

 this, hut not in condition for work. Another 

 horse is said to be in good working condition. 

 Such might be said of a post-horse, that is bare 

 of flesh, his joints enlarged, and his legs puffed 

 with windgalls ; yet this horse is capable of 



doing much work ; and his being worked raoro 

 than is requisite to keep him in condition, has 

 put him out of condition. 



Condition, therefore, without an expletive, 

 implies that perfect state of body and limbs 

 in which the whole system is in the most vigo- 

 rous state, and capable of the greatest exertion, 

 if required. This cannot be either obtained or 

 preserved without strictly adhering to three 

 things ; viz., proper food, proper grooming, and 

 necessary exercise. Neither of these must b© 

 omitted, nor injudiciously employed; for, like 

 medicine, properly administered, each does 

 good, but is capable of doing much injury, if 

 profusely taken or misapplied. 



Stable hours should be kept with strict regu- 

 larity. All animals appear to have a knowledge 

 of time ; and it may be observed, in many in- 

 stances, that they observe the periods as cor- 

 rectly as those who attend them, and who, let it 

 be remembered, have recourse to time-pieces. 

 The horse knows his stated hours ; and if he is 

 not attended to, particularly to feed and water 

 at the accustomed time, he will be watching 

 and fretting with much anxiety, and oftentimes 

 will call and ask for his food, in such a manner 

 as those accustomed to horses cannot fail to 

 understand. Eegular and stated hours should 

 be punctually kept, with as little variation as the 

 season or circumstances may require — say five 

 o'clock in summer; but as the days shorten, a 

 later hour is admissible, unless horses are to be 

 ready at an early hour for hunting, or other- 

 wise. In such cases, two hours, at least, before 

 they are wanted, the stable should be visited. 

 If this is not done, and if sufficient time ia 

 not allowed to look after thinys, they cannot 

 be done as they should. 



The first duty of the groom on going to 

 stable, after throwing his eye round to see if 

 any horses are loose, cast, or the like, is to rack 

 and feed. The judgment in racking is to give 

 the horse but little at a time, that he may eat 

 it with an appetite, first clearing out his rack, 

 &c., &c. If a horse leaves hay that is good 

 and sweet, some cause must be assigned for it, 

 and it must be examined into. Sometimes cats 

 will foul the hay ; and horses are very nice in 

 their food, when not kept scanty. If the ani- 

 mal appear to be in health, and the hay has 

 not been blown on by other horses, but is fresh 

 and sweet, it may reasonably be supposed that 



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