GROOMING A HORSE ON RACE DAV. 1S5 



or four swallows of water. Have a light halter 

 to put on the horse, tie the horse both ways with 

 tie straps or ropes long enough to have free use 

 of the head, throw a light woolen cooler over him. 

 Have him placed where he can get plenty of fresh 

 air, but not in a direct draught. Your horse wants 

 oxygen to neutralize the carbonic gas that the 

 lungs are overcharged with. We hear the ex- 

 pression "He can't get his breath." The facts are 

 that the lungs are overloaded with carbonic gas 

 and have hardly strength enough to expel it. Out 

 in the open air (unless it is a cool day or a strong 

 wind is blowing) is preferable to any other place. 

 H it is a long stable with doors open at each end 

 be sure to have the head away from the draught. 

 Take boots off. such as knee and shin boots, also 

 hind shin boots and scalpers or coronet boots. 

 Many times little pieces of gravel or dirt become 

 lodged under a scalper or coronet boot. It is also 

 well to take a rub rag and tie either above both 

 knees and hocks or else just above the hoofs all 

 around. It keeps the sweat out of the heels and 

 there is nothing more troublesome than sore heels. 

 They have stopped many a horse from being a 

 good race horse. After tying the rub rags on take 

 a damp sponge, open his mouth, wash it out by 

 squeezing the sponge inside of his mouth, remov- 

 ing all dust and foam. Take another spongeful 

 of fresh water and wash out the nostrils thor- 

 oughlv. Take another spongeful of fresh water, 



