NOSEBAGS. 17 



takes some of the polish off the coat. " Stonehenge" 

 remarks, " that it soon heats when wetted with urine, and 

 ammonia is given off profusely, so that great care must 

 be exercised to change it as soon as it becomes soiled." 



When a horse has on a high-heeled shoe as during 

 treatment for sprain -of the back tendons or suspensory 

 ligaments, &c. sawdust makes the best bedding, as it will 

 not catch in the long calkins. Alone, without a raised 

 shoe, it enables a horse to assume a comfortable position 

 for the injured limb. 



Sand Forms a very cool bedding for horses ; while 

 they generally show that they like having it under them 

 by frequently rolling on it. Its use spoils the look of 

 the coat, for the time being, on account of its absorbing 

 a considerable part of the oil, which is secreted by the 

 glands of the skin in order to keep the hair soft and 

 pliable. 



Tan Is an excellent material to put clown in a loose 

 box, for a horse that is at all inclined to inflammation, 

 in the feet, provided that the syce is most careful in 

 removing the wet portions immediately they become 

 tainted. 



Nosebags. These articles should never be used, except 

 when a proper manger is not obtainable, as on the march, 

 &c., because they are uncomfortable to the horse, who 

 with one on, is apt to bolt his food or chuck it out, 

 ^yhile he taints his corn with his breath and rejected 

 saliva ; besides this, it is difficult to keep nosebags clean 

 and sweet. When used, they should be made of canvas 

 or sacking, and not of leather, should be deep, not too 

 wide, and should narrow off to the bottom, so as to allow 



B 



