GEOOMINQ.] 



THE HOESE, AND 



[qeoomino. 



ticklish, and, therefore, it is necessary to be 

 careful to stand in a secure place. After 

 having curried the near side, proceed in like 

 manner to curry the off side ; but with the 

 difference of using the left hand, which, after 

 a while, becomes the most convenient. This 

 done, the next proceeding is to whisp off the 

 dust raised by the curry-comb, and to rub and 

 whisp well those places which were not proper 

 for the comb to touch. For this purpose, a 

 whisp of some half- worn straw should be made, 

 but a hay-band is better, which should be pre- 

 pared for the purpose, by half untwisting it ; 

 loosening it thus, it will be doubled about a 

 foot in length, and, loosely twisting it together, 

 it will not scatter so fast, till you have made it 

 as thick as you can grasp. If it is dry and 

 harsh, sprinkle it with water. This will make 

 it work pleasanter, and the dust which is in- 

 tended to be removed, will adhere to it, and 

 not fly about so much. 



In whisping the horse, begin at his head, 

 taking the whisp in the left hand for the near 

 side, and resting the right hand on the most 

 sonvenient part of the animal, to steady your- 

 self while the whisp is applied. Then change 

 its situation, beginning first at the top of the 

 neck, down to the shoulders, then the under 

 part of the neck, the chest, particularly between 

 the fore legs, down the arms, knees, and the 

 sinews and fetlocks, taking care to rub out 

 the dirt well from the heels, where the curry- 

 comb cannot be brought into use. Having 

 done this, proceed on in the order of his car- 

 case, on the back, sides, belly, croup, and so 

 on to his hind legs, which ought to be cleaned 

 as carefully as the fore ones. After this, whisp 

 in the same manner his off side, only changing 

 the whisp from the left to the right hand. 



Proceed next to brush the horse over, after 

 having first cleaned the brush well with the 

 curry-comb. Begin at the croup or rump, and 

 well brush the body backwards and forwards, 

 the brush being in the left hand ; for the near 

 side, work up in all parts as before, and finish 

 at the top of the neck ; then in leaving it, 

 brush the horse tlie straight way of the hair, 

 and finish at the near fetlock and heel behind. 

 The same plan should be pursued on the off 

 side, changing the brush to the right hand. 

 Many stable-men attend much to those places 

 that are most conspicuous to the eye, such as 

 112 



the fall of the neck, the shoulders, and hind- 

 quarters. These parts shine the most ; and they 

 do not fail to point out these to you, and say 

 how well they look, which may satisfy some 

 persons, but a judge will not be deceived 

 by external appearances. He expects the 

 parts not immediately in view to be equally 

 attended to. 



After the brushing, which causes much of 

 the dust to be floating about, when a part of 

 it, in all probability, will again settle on the 

 horse, he should be wiped all over with a 

 linen cloth, beginning, as with the whisp or 

 brush, at the head, and so proceeding to every 

 part. This being done, put on his clothes 

 before finishing with his head, mane, tail, and 

 legs, that he may not chill or take cold while 

 you are about them. 



It must be understood that we are here 

 treating of the method to be pursued in the 

 hackney stable, and not in the racing and 

 hunting stable, though there is very little 

 diflerence in treating the hunter and the 

 hack, except it be in a greater addition of 

 clothing and more dressing, the days he may 

 be lying at rest. 



The clothes being properly put on without 

 wrinkles, perfectly smooth, and especially under 

 the roller, loosen the horse's head, take off his 

 stall-collar, and turn him round in the stall, to 

 give his head and ears a complete rubbing and 

 brushing, which is not so easily done with the 

 stall-collar on. The head is now to be brushed 

 over in every part, particularly at the root of 

 the ears, and under the throat ; then, with the 

 dusting-cloth, rub and wipe him well ; pull his 

 ears through the hands, observing that they 

 are clean and soft, and moderately cool ; then 

 comb out his mane and foretop, with a sponge 

 or water-brush, wet the top or roots of the 

 mane, and pass a small cloth for that purpose 

 over it. Tliis cloth being passed from the near 

 side at the top of the mane, and pulled over to 

 the off-side, will make the mane lie smooth. 

 Next put on his stall-collar, and comb out his 

 tail; wipe away any dirt or filth that may be 

 remaining under the tail with a wet sponge, 

 and after with the cloth. The feet of the ani- 

 mal are next to be examined, and the dung and 

 litter picked clean out, and,if necessary, washed. 

 Lastly, the legs are to be rubbed with a clean 

 loose whisp of straw in each hand ; for which 



