GBOOMING.] 



MODEEN VETEKINART PRACTICE. 



[OBOOICWQ. 



the disagreeable smell that may probably arise 

 from the bedding being allowed to remain 

 under the manger, will be removed, and, in all 

 likelihood, the horse prevented from being 

 afiected with diseases of the eyes, glanders, 

 inflamed lungs, &c., &c. This being done, take 

 a little of the litter and shake it in the stall, 

 for most horses stale on first coming into the 

 stable, from exercise, and this will induce them 

 to do so freely. Thus will the stable be free 

 from any efiluvia which arise from the dung 

 and urine. 



The stable being made clean, next com- 

 mences the cleaning of the horses. This is a 

 work that requires more knowledge and judg- 

 ment than at first appears. The curry-comb 

 is the first thing to be applied, and great atten- 

 tion should be paid to the proper mode of 

 its application. Some horses require much of 

 the curry-comb ; others, none : this depends on 

 the state the animal is in, the time of year, &c. 

 Horses that have their coats long and full of 

 dust, such as are just taken up from grass, or 

 such as are come out of persons hands, that 

 either do not know, or do not take the pains to 

 keep their coats clean and fine, will require the 

 free use of the curry-comb. In reference to 

 the comb, its teeth and sharpness should be 

 proportioned to the thickness, length, and foul- 

 ness of the coat. For horses that have been 

 kept in stable, properly groomed, and have 

 their coats fine, thin, soft, and clean, requiring 

 no other use of the curry-comb than merely 

 to clean the brush, or occasionally to rub off 

 any dung that may be on them, the teeth of 

 the comb should be remarkably even and 

 dull, not to scratch them. 



These things being attended to, after strip- 

 ping the clothes off, the curry-comb should 

 next be used, always beginning on the near 

 side at the hind-quarters, and using it in pro- 

 portion to the length and foulness of the coat. 

 If the coat is fast on, long, full of dust, 

 and very filthy, it may be used freely to loosen 

 it, or the sweat that is dried and fastened 

 on the skin and roots of the hair, will appear 

 like a white and saltish dust ; but it is not to 

 be expected that all the dust shall be got out 

 at once. It must be a work of time; and to 

 attempt it by iising the curry-comb too miTch, 

 the coat will be set on end, the pores of the 

 skin will he opened, and the horse will, in con- 



sequence, be very liable to take cold, which will 



obstruct that imperceptible perspiration which, 

 in a healthy state, is always going on; and 

 which, if suppressed, causes to be thrown up an 

 ichorous discliargc, wliich will dry into small 

 scabs. The coat will then stare, put on a rus- 

 setty appearance ; be rough, and have a ven' 

 disagreeable look when compared with those 

 horses whose coats are fine and clean, such as 

 the race-horse, or the hunter, when got into 

 proper condition. Another thing to be ob- 

 ser?«d is, that if it be during the season when 

 the horse is changing his coat, when the hair 

 will come off freely with the curry-comb, it is 

 not advisable to be too free in the use of the 

 comb for the purpose of removing the coat, 

 but let this have its time to come off. "With 

 good feeding the end will be obtained quicker 

 than by scratching the horse's skin with the 

 comb. Providence has wisely ordained that 

 the horse's coat, if exposed to cold, shall grow 

 long, and if he is kept warm, it will remain 

 short. 



Proceeding to curry on the hind -quarters, 

 for the purpose of unmatting the hair and 

 loosening the dust, it is necessary to descend 

 down the quarters, particularly remembering 

 to rub off all dried dung, and taking care not 

 to injure or scratch the horse's legs. It is to 

 be observed that the curry-comb is not to 

 be used below the hock, unless some dung 

 may be there. Whilst employed here, you 

 must handle the comb very lightly ; and with 

 grey or white horses, stains are very trouble- 

 some to remove ; but if a wet sponge is taken, 

 and the hair well moistened where the stain is, 

 then a knob of common stone-llue — such as is 

 used by washerwomen — put into a piece of 

 flannel, and rubbed well on the stains, will be 

 able to remove them. When this is dry, it 

 must be well brushed off. 



After having curried the horse's hind-quar- 

 ters, proceed on to the back, loins, flank, belly 

 shoulders, arms, chest, and neck, omitting no 

 part to which the comb can be conveniently 

 applied. Tender places, or such as have thin 

 hair, need not be touched, neither need the 

 head be touched. Horses are not ticklish 

 when they are full of the dust occasioned by 

 the natural and imperceptible perspiration of 

 the body ; but as they become clean, and their 

 coats short and fine, they are exceedingly 



111 



