HOODS AXD MUZZLES. 261 



factory. I think horses must be more liable to con- 

 tract colds, going out of a heated barn into the cold 

 midwinter air of our ^N'orthern States, but, as I have 

 had no experience in this direction, I cannot speak 

 positively on the point. A temperature of about sixty 

 degrees is high enough for health ; and the reader in 

 a northern region will appreciate from his own 

 V experience, without my reminder, the importance of 

 duly providing for the horse's comfort in winter by 

 stabling and good clothing. 



For this country I like a linen blanket, with a 

 lighter blanket over it, and it seems to suit all sorts 

 of weather. In winter it keeps cold out — or rather 

 keeps the natural warmth in — and in summer it does 

 not get sweaty, keeping the horse's coat nice under all 

 conditions. 



The hood is an article of clothing that I am not sure 

 is ever absolutely necessary, and, to say the least, 

 should be little used. For sweating out the throat, 

 or for any purpose that a hood answers, I prefer a 

 jowl-piece. The use of heavy sweat- hoods is, I am 

 sure, often weakening and injurious, and, if used at all, 

 it should be with great* discrimination and care. 



Muzzles are an invention in horse-wear that are an 

 unmitigated evil, and if every trainer were of my 

 mind the harness-makers would soon forget how to 

 make them. That there are gluttons among horses 

 we all know. They will drive their heads to the 

 bottom of a bucket of water, and take chances of 

 breathing through their ears rather than draw back ; 

 they will try to swallow three quarts of oats in one 

 gulp, will gorge on all the hay, straw or anything eat- 



