294 THE HORSE 



doubled, or those of greater weight and warmth, secured 

 around the abdomen with safety pins, should be sub- 

 stituted for the light ones. In warm weather the horse 

 enjoys a sponge bath, and the skin is cleaned and 

 hair benefited thereby. Much space has been given to 

 the use of blankets, with the view of keeping the 

 horse comfortable and the skin and hair pliable and 

 presentable, with the minimum of body grooming, an 

 excess of which tends to keep the skin too sensitive 

 for our erratic climate. 



The care of the legs is really of more importance 

 than the care of the body. They are subjected to 

 severe concussion and strain; often covered with mud 

 or ice, or both, or soaked with water the entire work 

 day. It is little wonder, then, that they become 

 unsound, sometimes useless. Added to mud and ice 

 in the winter, is the ever-present dust in the summer, 

 which fills the hair and pores of the legs fai more 

 than of the body. All these necessarily adverse con- 

 ditions tend to injure the legs in time; hence they 

 should be cared for promptly and with skill and 

 judgment. 



When the horse comes to the stable with muddy 

 legs, they should be roughly cleaned by using a half- 

 worn common broom. In an hour, or when the legs 

 have dried off, they should be rubbed and brushed 

 until they are quite dry and clean. Then, too, such 

 rubbing will restore circulation, and the following 

 morning the horse will be supple and ready for work, 

 even if his legs receive but little attention just before 

 going to his task. In other words, fifteen minutes' time 



