354 GROOMS. * 



horse's foot contain tallow, wax, lamp-black, and various solids, which 

 must clog the pores of the hoof, and, by arresting one of its functions, 

 provoke disease. The best application to adorn this part is a little of 

 the glycerin mixture, directions for preparing which have already been 

 given. This moistens and renders pliable the hoof, which, be it black or 

 white, will present a polished surface, without the pores being clogged 

 up by the tenacious property of its substance. 



It is a general custom to contract with the groom, that he shall sup- 

 ply the horse with cloths, brushes, etc. The sum usually given is' four 

 or five pounds, over and above the yearly wages. This custom is at- 

 tended with two evils and with one advantage. The evils are, — should 

 the man quit his situation, he commonly leaves an empty stable behind 

 him; or the master has to buy a second time those things which his 

 money has already purchased. The other objection being, — that grooms 

 are likely to procure less than is essential, when the fewer articles they 

 can make shift with puts so much money into their pockets ; thereby 

 the horse is either imperfectly attended to, or the vehicle (where the 

 groom has to look after one) suffers from the want of proper appliances. 

 The solitary advantage which attends this kind of arrangement being, — 

 that, it enables the proprietor to estimate, with greater accuracy, the cost 

 of his establishment. 



London stables are all faulty. Such places are much too small. A 

 stable which is professed to contain four stalls, should be divided into two 

 loose boxes ; or it might, if the stalls are of the kind which is denominated 

 "roomy," be converted into three small compartments. Therefore, every 

 gentleman hiring a building for this purpose, should rent one which, in 

 London, is generally esteemed larger than he is supposed to require. 

 The alterations are quickly made; and the proprietor may be certain 

 that his outlay will bear a most liberal interest. Where valuable horses 

 are concerned, rent is not a weighty consideration. 



The stable being taken and altered, order the groom to watch the eat- 

 ing capacities of your horses. If he report that each feeds alike, or that 

 all clear their mangers, either investigate the matter yourself, or have 

 the animals observed by somebody on whose report you can better de- 

 pend. It is seldom that three quadrupeds meet, having precisely equal 

 capacities in any particular. The author has, seemingly, ordered one 

 general quantity for all horses ; but those who serve out the provender 

 should apportion the amount by the results of experience. 



There is one quality for which most London grooms are remarkable ; 

 nevertheless this conspicuous characteristic appears to have, hitherto, 

 escaped observation. They all display a strange union of extreme inno- 

 cence and the height of knowingness. They profess to understand 



