116 



front of and facing the horse, and, taking an ear in each hand, close 

 to the root of the ear, commence by drawing his right hand down 

 the ear, the same with the left. Whilst the left hand is passing 

 down the ear the right must grasp the other ear, and so on, pulling 

 each ear alternately. 



The horse can then be taken to his own stall, and have four or 

 five swallows of chilled water, and fed. 



When sufficiently dry to enable the man to do so, he must, with 

 a dandy-brush, go over the horse, and remove all dirt which the 

 scraper failed to take off ; after which the horse may be treated 

 according to the routine before stated as to be followed on his return 

 from exercise. 



If the horse comes in at five or six o'clock, this will be all that is 

 necessary to do to him that day ; but should he arrive at home two 

 or three hours earlier, he should when dry get a thorough dressing. 



HORSE ENTER A STABLE, TO MAKE A. 



Take off the bridle and put on a halter whilst outside, and, holding 

 a sieve of corn, let the horse eat a mouthful or two ; then recede 

 gradually into the stable, letting him feed a little at each step ; by 

 patiently pursuing this plan the animal will soon follow quietly into 

 his stall. Force should by no means be attempted, or the fault will 

 be increased. 



A correspondent writes : ''1 have a horse which has this disagree- 

 able habit. There is only one means by which I can induce her to 

 enter or leave her stable, and that is by gently laying hold of her 

 ear. She will then follow me without any further trouble. If this 

 should fail I would recommend a coach-house or barn with a very 

 high door, when after some time he will most probably forget his 

 troublesome trick." 



HORSES SCRAPING THEIR BEDS. 



A plan of preventing horses from scraping the litter from under 

 them with their fore-feet is by the use of hobbles, commonly adopted, 

 especially with young horses, in training stables. They consist of 

 two straps, lined and connected with each other by a chain about 

 fifteen inches long. The straps are buckled round the pasterns, and 

 prevent a horse from pawing the litter with one foot. 



Some say that if you put the horse into a box, of which the floor 

 is laid with asphalte, so as to fall all four ways to the middle where 

 the drain is : he seldom moves the straw. 



Try dry sea-sand. It only requires raking over twice a day, and 



