I 2 6" MISCELLANE O US. 



BLANKETING GENERALLY. 



A horse of all work should not be blanketed until win- 

 ter has fairly set in, as the early blanketing prevents nature 

 from putting on as warm a coat as she would otherwise 

 do. If a horse comes in cold and chilly, a blanket thrown 

 over him until the stable is shut up for the night is good 

 for him ; but then it is better to take it off. I am opposed 

 to the custom prevailing of heavy blanketing, it tends to 

 make the horse tender and liable to colds. 



Horses driven by physicians, and all others much ex- 

 posed in very bad, cold weather, should have a short 

 blanket from the saddle back, and a breast-piece of 

 blanket. In very wet weather a rubber in the place of a 

 blanket should be used. A blanket, if soaked, and the 

 horse standing in it, is worse than nothing on him. 



Horses so used in our cities, and all other places, that 

 are from their duties necessitated to stand (after probably 

 a sharp little drive) exposed to all weathers, should under 

 all circumstances, when having to stand the brunt of a 

 storm, either of wind, rain, sleet, or snow, be turned tail 

 to it. The vehicle behind them affords them some pro- 

 tection, and as it is their natural mode of standing in a 

 storm, to them is afforded a great amount of comparative 

 comfort over the opposite position of heading the storm, 

 the latter subjecting the animals to colds and inflamma- 

 tions arising therefrom, and possibly in some causing the 

 loss of a fine horse. The trouble so to place him is nothing ; 

 but the insurance against disease is great. 



Driving in blankets, as many coachmen do, is all wrong ; 

 they should take the blankets on the box with them, and, 

 Jf required to stand a long time, double and throw over 

 the horse's loins when standing. 



