22 THE CARE OF HORSES 



guarding it from getting soiled, and keep it clear of 

 the step. Having looped the reins through the 

 pad-rings, unbuckle the tugs, or the straps that 

 fasten the kicking-strap to the shafts, then the belly- 

 band, and lastly the traces. Take the near shaft 

 firmly in your hands, and tell the horse to ' get up ' 

 a step or two. When he is clear of it, run the trap 

 back out of the way, and see to the horse first. 



Remove the harness and put on a halter. With 

 your water-brush and a bucket of clean water wash 

 the feet thoroughly, not the legs. If he is smothered 

 in mud or sweat, or both, use a scraper and get off 

 as much as possible, and then let him dry. While 

 you are waiting, run your trap in until it is time to 

 wash it, and hang up the harness also to await its turn. 



The horse being dry, take a handful of straw and 

 thoroughly and briskly rub off the now dry mud ; 

 then dress him, as before described, and rug him up ; 

 then give the midday feed — no water this time. We 

 once had a very valuable animal sent in for treat- 

 ment. She was in a most shocking state. She had 

 running and stinking sores all over her body, one 

 of the ears eventually rotted off, and the skin was 

 seamed with huge scars all over, as if the poor beast 

 had been in a very tight place during a pitched 

 battle. This was brought about by a foolish and 

 ignorant groom. When the mare returned to the 

 stables, very hot, tired, and dirty, this man threw 

 pail after pail of ice-cold water over her to wash the 

 mud and sweat off; he was even too idle to dry her, 

 but rugged her up, fed and left her. Of course, a 

 violent chill followed, and in the morning the poor 

 animal was so swollen that the roller was buried in 

 the overlapping folds, and was only removed with 

 great difficulty. Never run such a risk as that. 



After your own dinner, clean the harness and wash 

 the trap. 



