Work in the Stable. 35 



bandage on a wet leg, unless you want mud fever. 

 After the legs are washed, a little straw is put 

 under each horse, and a small quantity of sweet 

 hay given for them to eat while the men go to 

 breakfast, half an hour being allowed. 



After breakfast they proceed to dress the horses. 

 First, each man takes two pails of clean water 

 into the stables (some grooms keep the pails 

 always filled in the stables to chill the water ; or, 

 properly speaking to bring the water to the same 

 temperature as the stable. I object to this prac- 

 tice, as the water absorbs the poisonous gases of 

 the stables, and after being kept in the stable 

 all night becomes very impure), and places one 

 behind each horse ; the head-stall is then taken off 

 and the horse turns round and drinks its water, 

 while the groom cleans and softsoaps the head- 

 stall ; he then takes his bodv brush and brushes 

 the horse's mane, proceeding from the withers up 

 to the head, parting it carefully as he proceeds, 

 and bringing it over to the near side; he then 

 turns the horse over in its stall and brushes the 

 mane back again to the off side in the same 

 manner; he now commences to brush the head, 

 neck, shoulders, and fore legs, always commenc- 

 ing on the near side, and finishing on the off 

 side. He next takes a sponge and carefully 

 sponges nose, eyes, legs, etc., then a damp wisp 

 of soft hay (never allow a man to use a hard 

 wisp), and rub the animal until it is perfectly 

 clean, then wipe down with a clean chamois 

 leather. The head-stall is now put on, and the 

 horse turned round in its stall and fastened up 



