MOULTING OF THE COAT. 81 



should be slackened, and he should be walked about until 

 he cools down, and then the wisp should be applied, 

 beginning first of all at the part under the saddle. 



1 have never found the slightest ill-effect accrue from 

 removing the saddle immediately the horse comes in, 

 however heated he might be, provided always, the skin 

 under it was thoroughly well dried without delay. 



Moulting of the Coat. The horse sheds his coat twice 

 in the year in the autumn and in the spring. At the 

 former time, his fine summer hair moults, to be replaced 

 by a thicker and longer covering, which, in its turn, 

 gives place to the other. If, while the coat is changing 

 in the spring, the brush, or other means be employed to 

 hasten the process, the hair-follicles will become pre- 

 maturely exposed to the action of the air, and conse- 

 quently, will become stimulated to secrete a coarser 

 form of hair than they would have done, had their 

 natural protection remained on for its allotted period ; 

 hence the new summer coat will be rougher than it ought 

 to be, and its appearance will, consequently, be more 

 or less spoiled. On this account, when the coat is 

 moulting during that time, the brush should not be 

 applied to it, nor should it be hand-rubbed. The wisp 

 and rubber will then be sufficient for grooming purposes. 



In India, the moulting of horses, that are well groomed 

 and warmly clothed, takes place to a far less extent 

 than in England. 



Care of the Feet and Legs. The horse's feet should 

 neither be washed nor " stopped," for the former practice 

 is the fruitful cause of " cracked heels," while the latter 

 induces thrush, and softens and weakens the sole, frog, 



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