Management of Tails. 509 



stop. Altogether the balance of opinion is at present against stopping, as more Hl<cly to injure 

 than improve sound feet. It is usual, for the sake of appearance, to rub a mixture of oil 

 and lampblack over the hoofs before a horse goes out of the stable harnessed or saddled. 

 It does no harm. Various unguents are advertised for increasing the growth of the horn. As 

 the hoof is covered with a hard varnish like the human nail, it is difficult to believe that any 

 ointment can soak into it or do it any good. 



THE ORDER OF DRESSING. 



The following is the order of dressing a horse after work, according to one of the best 

 authorities : — 



" If very hot, leave the saddle on, or throw a rug loosely over his back and quarters ; pull 

 his ears to dry them. In fine weather tie him up in the yard or washing-house ; in cold 

 weather he must be dressed in his stall. 



" Wash and pick out any dirt from his feet, then rub off the loose dirt from his legs 

 and belly with a straw wisp, or, still better, with sawdust. If there be any white about the 

 legs, soft soap and washing blue must be used the next morning. If the horse's belly and legs 

 are washed — a bad system where mud fever is feared — rub all the wet parts with dry woollen 

 cloths, and roll bandages on all four legs, from the coronets to the knees or hocks. 



" Remove the rug, and wisp the horse from head to foot until quite dry ; then briskly 

 apply a brush until all sweat and dirt is removed ; follow up with a damp hay wisp to lay 

 the coat smooth, laid on with a will ; finish with a chamois leather, or, if luxurious, with a 

 hair glove. The clothing should now be laid on, and secured with a surcingle, which, if the 

 horse is light and herring-gutted, should be fastened with a wet girth across the breast, so as 

 not to slip back, for a surcingle should never be tight. 



" The next step is to sponge and wipe the horse's eyes, mouth, nose, and other delicate parts 

 not covered with hair, and to carefully brush the mane and tail. A comb should never be used, 

 as nothing so soon breaks and spoils horsehair. This dressing will take at least an hour and a 

 half for each horse. Before shutting up for the night, remove the damp bandages, and, if 

 needed, replace them with dry ones." 



MANES AND TAILS. 



It is impossible to put a money value on a well-grown and well-kept mane and tail, because, 

 although neither will make a good horse into a bad one, the deficiency of either, and especially 

 of the tail, will frequently make all the diff'erence between selling and having to keep on hand 

 a very high-class horse. Both manes and tails are too much neglected by farmers who breed 

 " nag horses." 



There have been famous hunters with rat tails, and famous men have ridden capital hacks 

 with hideous docks ; but no carriage-horse, no park-horse of any kind, can be ranked first-class 

 without a noble flag. Nature must lay the foundation, but art can do a great deal. On the 

 other hand, the very finest tails and manes may be utterly destroyed, and the horse rendered 

 unsaleable, by neglect during a few days. 



When a horse of any kind is taken up for grass, or purchased out of an Irish drove, no time 

 should be lost in thoroughly washing his mane and tail with hot water and carbolic, or other 

 vermin-killing soap. Indeed, the washing may be advantageously extended to the whole body. 

 If the mane is too thick, it must be thinned with a steel comb which is made for the purpose. If it 



