Grooming. 205 



tunity, labour and risk. In a steamer in 

 which there is plenty of room for taking- 

 horses out and abundance of efficient help, 

 horses can be groomed during fine weather 

 almost as well as on land ; but the danger 

 of accident should not be lightly incurred. 

 When the attendants are unskilled in stable 

 work and are few in number, the grooming 

 had better be restricted to such small details 

 as : sponging out the eyes, nostrils and dock ; 

 going over the body with a dandy brush ; 

 picking out the feet ; and setting the 

 mane and tail straight. In all cases, the 

 yards of the horses should be drawn from 

 time to time, and the sheathes cleaned 

 and sponged out. If this be not done, the 

 sheathes will become swollen and the animals 

 will have difficulty in staling. 



