106 HOESE PORTRAIT U BE. 



that are in one compartment ; we will put them under 

 the charge of one man, with a boy to assist in rubbing- 

 legs, walking, &c. The next division, in like quarters 

 and with the same number of attendants, will be Never 

 Mind, Jane, and Mavourneen ; while we will expect one 

 man to take charge of Clipper, Oriole, and King. The 

 " old Virginia " plan in racing stables was to put a man 

 and a boy to every horse ; and I have seen the services of 

 two men detailed to take care of one of our fastest trot- 

 ters. In my opinion, so much help is unnecessary, and 

 in some cases injurious. Grooming, as well as exercise, 

 can be overdone. When the results aimed at are attained, 

 what can be the profit of carrying it further ? The bene- 

 fits arising from grooming are cleanliness, and keeping 

 up the circulation of blood to the extremities by the 

 friction. The horse's skin is like the human, exudation 

 removing impurities from the system, which, if confined, 

 would do injury. The dandruff or scurf closing the pores 

 has to be removed, and it is astonishing the difference in 

 the appearance of the horse between having this duty per- 

 formed thoroughly, and having it slighted. 



A good groom is of great value, and, simple as the 

 operation appears of cleaning a horse, there are very few 

 adepts. The curry-comb in the hands of an artist is used 

 only to keep the brush clean. A bungler rakes away with 

 it against and across the hair, torturing the horse without 

 affecting any good. The brush, if properly used, will 

 effectually remove the scurf, while the wisp gives the 

 polish to the hair, and removes the dust from the surface. 

 Fast work, while it makes extra care necessary, decreases 

 the labor of keeping the horse clean, the frequency of 

 perspiration loosening the dandruff, and lodging it on the 

 outside, where its removal becomes less troublesome. It 

 is very true that', in the commencement of training, this 

 perspiration is of an oily nature, which, if suffered to dry. 



