852 GROOMS. 



to remain, the animal will breathe upon it, and grow to distaste the 

 nourishment. Suffer the horse to take the rest which a disinclination to 

 feed will have informed you is nature's primary requirement. Only, 

 order the groom once or twice lo peep at the nag through the window 

 which overlooks the stable. Should the creature have laid j3own, the 

 man may retire to his bed, convinced that all his well ; but should the 

 animal, upon the second inspection, be beheld standing up, no time must 

 be lost. The servant ought to dress himself, to apprise his master, and 

 to descend to the stable; for this attitude, being long maintained, is 

 among the earliest and surest indications that disease has commenced. 



A good feeder may simply require an allowance of bruised beans and 

 corn, to be well boiled in a sufficiency of water, and, before being pre- 

 sented as two meals, quite cold. No hay, but a little bran or chaff 

 should accompany the mess, as the desire is to nourish the system with- 

 out overloading the stomach. Should, however, this potion be refused, 

 it is soon converted into gruel, by stirring to it a sufficiency of water and 

 placing it on the fire ; afterward by pouring the liquid through a strainer, 

 the husks are readily separated. It is but seldom that full feeders are 

 thus far exhausted. A voracious appetite is commonly united to so 

 much slothfulness of body as saves the horse from the aggravated effects 

 of absolute muscular and nervous prostration. 



On the following morning — supposing no misliap to have occurred — 

 when the time arrives to groom the horse, the bandages should be taken 

 off, and, as each wrapper is removed, the leg ought to be dressed. Firstly, 

 the member should be well rubbed with several wisps of straw. The 

 more apparent dirt being removed, the part should be further cleansed 

 by application of the hand. After this the hair should be combed ; then 

 again ruffled with the hand — these processes being terminated by a 

 thorough application of the dry water brush. This operation should be 

 repeated upon each leg, no hurry being indulged in the performance of 

 this operation; but water should not be applied to the heels, without 

 the special leave of the proprietor having been obtained. The case 

 should be very marked before such permission is accorded ; for wet to 

 the heel is the cause of numerous troublesome affections. 



Most grooms are convinced of the propriety of walking the horse up 

 and down when the creature has returned, and perspiration has moist- 

 ened the winter's coat. The author has, elsewhere, illustrated the folly 

 of this practice. The body soon chills, upon a change of action ; not- 

 withstanding a most conscientious individual might swear the legs have 

 never ceased moving. It is better to have the horse at once brought 

 into the stable ; to cleanse the skin with liquid soap and warm water ; 

 and to close the open pores by the application of cold fluid ; then, with 



