STRUCTURE OF THE HORSE, 97 



The liair is the clothing of the horse, and is a modification of 

 the epidermis. The hair consists of a shaft and a root. The 

 shaft of the hair is cylindrical and covered with a layer of scales, 

 arranged with their edges npwards. The substance of the hair 

 consists of fiber's, in which nnclei may be discovered. There are 

 also present in some hairs small air spaces. In the coarse hair 

 there is the medulla, which is occupied by small, angiilar cells 

 and fat grannies. The root of the hair swells ont into a knob, 

 and fits into a recess in the skin, called a hair follicle. The fol- 

 licle consists of two coats^ — an outer or dermic coat, continuous 

 with the corium, and an inner, continuous with the epidermis 

 and called the root sheath. 



The condition of the horse's health is shown by his hair. If 

 debilitated or diseased, his coat will be dry, harsh, and standing. 

 When in health, his coat will be soft and sleek, presenting a 

 yielding softness and elasticity. The fatty matter from the 

 sebaceous glands softens and oils the hair, causing it to lie in its 

 proper direction, and giving it a smooth and glossy appearance. 

 We can also judge the horse's breeding by his coat. The com- 

 mon-bred horse has a long, shaggy coat. The coat of the well- 

 bred horse is short, of a finer texture, and more downy in its 

 character. When we see a horse clipped, we know that he is of 

 common blood. We condemn the practice of clipping. Nature 

 has provided different suits for the horse in different seasons. 

 In the spring the old coat of thick, coarse hair comes off, and a 

 new one, a half or quarter of an inch in length, is ready to take 

 its place. The old coat, as the weather grows warmer, is gradu- 

 ally replaced by the new. Part of the new coat is shed as the 

 warm summer days approach. As the season again changes and 

 the cold increases, a new suit of hair begins to show itself, much 

 thicker and coarser. This is in addition to the finer summer 

 coat, with which it foruis an excellent clothing for winter. The 

 suit which the horse will need in the fall begins to grow in the 

 spring, and that for the spring in the fall. We should not tam- 

 per with nature by clipping. 



