WORKING CONDITION, HYGIENE, ETC. 31 



StroDor-siiielliii": disinfectants, such as carbolic acid or creolin 

 are useful preventives of flies, and it is a good plan to sprinkle 

 a five per cent, solution of either of the above on the walls 

 and floor of the stable in hot weather. 



CHAPTER VI. 



WORKING CONDITION, HYGIENE, Etc. 



Horses which are worked must be in good working condition 

 if they are to do their work in a satisfactory manner. When 

 young horses are put to work for tlie first time, or when a 

 horse is taken up from grass, after having been turned out 

 for many weeks, they are out of condition, or '* soft " and 

 "green"; they have no strength, their muscles are soft and 

 flabby, and, on undergoing the least exertion, they sweat pro- 

 fus.ely, and soon become blown. In sucli cases, tliey require 

 to be got into working condition before tliey are up to their full 

 work. A considerable amount of risk is involved in working a 

 horse which is not in working condition, too hard : by over- 

 exerting it, congestion of the lungs may be brought on, or 

 lameness may be caused by the tendons and ligaments of the 

 legs being strained or actually sprained. A horse which is 

 out of condition, or " green," is got into working condition 

 by feeding it on corn, and by gradually increasing itsi daily 

 work, the work at first being very light. As the horse gains 

 in strength, the work is proportionately increased, until finally 

 the horse is able to do full work, without being unduly 

 fatigued. It will be seen that workingr condition cannot be 



