348 



GROOMS. 



The drink oeing swallowed, the sheet is taken off, and the body made 

 thoroughly dry with wisps and cloths. The lad again employs the 

 scraper : the man with a cloth dries the eyes, channel between the 

 thighs, chest and abdomen, always performing his duties with gentle- 

 ness, and discarding the cloth for a hay wisp, where the hair is thick, or 

 wherever the water appears to have lodged. While this is doing, the 

 proprietor should comb out the tail, the forelock, and the mane; he 

 should also discharge those many little offices which are not laborious, 

 but which add greatly to the comfort of a tired animal. Other portions 

 of this matter will be treated of in another part of the present article, — 

 such portions being, the food proper subsequent to fatigue, and the right 

 method of cleaning the heels. However, it may be necessary to observe 

 in this place that before the quadruped is left for the night, the sheet 

 should be removed, and the usual night rug put on to the body. 



CLEANSING AN EZHACSTED HORSE. 



When a horse is brought in, covered with perspiration, it is led at 

 once into the stable; master, man, and boy should join in its purifica- 

 tion. The lad takes the scraper, and, beginning at the quarters, hastily 

 presses out the excess of moisture ; while the groom procures a pail of 

 cold and a pail of warm water. All being ready, the master not having 

 left the stable, the lad brings forth a dish of diluted soap, (half a pound 

 of soap whisked about till it has dissolved in one quart of water,) and, 

 dipping his right hand in this preparation, he smears it all over die body. 

 So fast as the youth rubs the soap into the hair, the groom washes it off, 



