90 THE HORSE : ITS KEEP AND MANAGEMENT. 



should never be left in that state, because it is an indica- 

 tion the horse is cold all over. They should be rubbed 

 through the hand until they become quite dry. If they 

 are warmed in this way it usually circulates the warm 

 blood right through the body. There is nothing a horse 

 enjoys more than having its ears rubbed when it gets 

 accustomed to it. When the owner, or attendant, goes 

 into the stable to see whether the animal is comfortable 

 or not, he should first go and feel its ears. If they are 

 cold and wet it is a sign the horse is not left comfortable. 

 No matter how hungry the animal is, if the attendant 

 commences to rub its ears through his hand, so as to 

 bring circulation into them, the horse will hold its head 

 right down to the ground in order that the ears can be 

 reached nicely. The horns of a cow should be felt to 

 see whether the animal is cold or not, and the ears of 

 a horse. 



I mention rubbing heavy horses, because they are as 

 capable of taking cold as nag horses, though not quite 

 so readily. Some people may argue that when horses 

 are lying out in the field they are never rubbed down 

 after it has been raining, yet there is not one in a hundred 

 takes cold, even if they are lying out in the winter months' 

 and are not brought in at all. That is quite true. It is 

 natural for a horse to lie out of doors. But suppose a 

 horse was working and was then turned out in the field, it 

 would have quite a different effect on the animal if it were 

 to rain hard, that is if it were not attended to. When 

 horses are doing no work, and are lying out in the wet, 



