MANAGEMENT IN THE STABLE. 29 



nowise be hastened by increased grooming, but, on the con- 

 trary, less grooming should be given, so as to avoid forcing 

 out the hairs before they fall out of their own accord. The 

 premature removal of the winter coat by artificial means 

 spoils the look of the summer coat, and also increases the risk 

 of the liorses catching cold, which is always pretty great while 

 the coat is being shed. 



Clipping;. — Team-horses, doing farm work, are usually 

 not clipped in wintei". Having to stand about in tJie open a 

 great deal, and being exposed to all kinds of weather, they 

 require the thick winter coat, with Avhich nature provides 

 them, as a protection. As their work is performed at a walk- 

 ing pace, a heavy coat does not interfere with their working 

 powers. The case is, however, quite different w^here horses 

 and ponies are concerned, which have to work at a faster 

 pace than a walk. In their case, the removal of tlie w^inter 

 coat by clipping is very advisable, as this both increases their 

 working capacity, and tends to keep them in health. Un- 

 dipped horses sw^eat profusely when worked at a fast pace, 

 and once the coat has become saturated with sweat, it takes 

 a long time to dry. The profuse sweating has a weakening 

 efltect, and also renders the horses very liable to cateli cold. 

 The practice of clipping horses in no' way increases the risk of 

 their catching a chill, if they are covered with a. rug while in 

 the stable. A horse should be clipped from the first week in 

 October to the beginning of November, and a second clipping 

 will be required about the new year. Many animals will re- 

 quire to be clipped three times during the winter, but in no 

 case should a liorse be clipped later than the end of January, 

 otherwise the spring coats will be spoilt The legs are best left 

 undipped : to clip them exposes them needlessly to cracked 

 heels and mud fever, while it also involves a great deal of 

 unnecessary trouble. 



Clothingf. — Farm-horses do not require a rug at any 

 season and none should be used. Horses that have been 



