8 THE CARE OF HORSES 



saw-dust. Do this neatly and with method, not 

 throwing it all over the place. 



Then start tossing the bedding, whatever it may 

 be, neatly up under the manger — if in a loose-box put 

 it all up in one corner — and sweep the floor well of all 

 the dirt left, always starting on the near or left-hand 

 side. Having gone from stall to stall, or from box to 

 box, and removed all that is of no further use, and 

 the horses having finished their feed, begin to water 

 them, carrying each horse his water in a clean pail, 

 and throwing away what he leaves before filling it 

 again for another. And here I would advise, in cases 

 where there are more than one horse, always to begin 

 operations with the same one, and work along the 

 line. It saves a lot of unnecessary impatience on the 

 horses' part — for they all know when it is their turn 

 — and a lot of unnecessary running about on the 

 groom's part. 



Stalls clean, horses fed and watered, begin again 

 at No. i, and off with the roller and rug. Approach 

 always on the near or left side, with a clearly- spoken 

 ' Steady, my lad !' or ' Quiet now, old girl !' pat the 

 neck, remove the log-chain, and attach the rack- 

 chain ; then pass the hand firmly down the neck 

 towards the roller, or band that fastens and keeps 

 the cloth in place. The left hand then unfastens 

 the front or chest strap ; grasp the cloth firmly at 

 the withers with the left hand, and sweep the cloth 

 off towards the tail, where the right hand should 

 be in readiness to receive it and steady it off clear 

 of the horse. Never drag it off sideways : you may 

 get kicked. Never attempt to disturb a horse 

 while he is feeding ; it is bad in every way. You 

 like your meals in peace and quietude, so does a 

 horse. 



