BEDDING. 15 



object, the boot may be made of two thicknesses of boot 

 elastic, and to lace at the side. The laces may be made 

 of whipcord, or, better still, of strong waxed hempen 

 thread. For "brushing," or "speedy-cutting," leather 

 guards should be sewn on to the inner side of the cloth. 

 The same precaution may be used to protect the back 

 tendon with cross county horses, especially when 

 schooling. 



When putting on boots, care should be taken that the 

 upper and lower straps should be buckled looser than the 

 middle one, or pair, according as there are three or four 

 of them. 



Bandages are best for support, boots for protection. 



Cloths are commonly employed in England instead of 

 bandages; they are formed of stout woollen material, 

 sewn down the side of the horse's leg, and are not 

 removed. I think bandages, which are properly put on, 

 are much superior to them in every way, especially in 

 the facility they afford for hand-rubbing, or fomenting 

 the legs. 



Bedding. Long wheaten straw furnishes the softest 

 and most comfortable bedding for the horse, especially if 

 he be without clothing. Barley straw is objectionable, 

 because it is very indigestible, while the horse will eat 

 it readily. Oat straw is brittle, so does not last as well 

 as that obtained from wheat ; there is little or no harm 

 in the horse eating a moderate quantity of either of these 

 two last mentioned kinds, especially the former. Horses 

 rarely care to eat rice straw. 



If the animal be .addicted to the practice of eating 

 his bedding, the straw may be damped, and kept in 



