CLOTHING. 115 



blankets. There is a medium that will suit me better. 

 Clothing has its uses that can hardly be dispensed with 

 in this variable climate, and the question is, how will we 

 apply it to the best advantage. By the use of reasonable 

 clothing there is less trouble in the ventilation of the 

 stable, as slight changes of temperature are not felt when 

 the bodily heat is partially retained by the application of 

 a cover. The changes in a day or night range frequently 

 through several degrees of the thermometer ; and a horse 

 that may have been comfortable with a linsey in the stable, 

 and while taking his afternoon walk, will need the pro- 

 tection of kersey from then till morning. This is the 

 farthest I would go, from a linen sheet to thick kersey ; 

 the addition of one or two blankets being, in my opinion, 

 detrimental. If the training is carried on till late in the 

 fall, the horse must be allowed to start a growth of hair 

 that will compensate for the increased cold. The clothes 

 that are used when sweating should be of an entirely 

 different character from those intended for daily wear. 

 They cannot be too thick, if soft and pliable. They need 

 to be soft and porous, that they may absorb as much of 

 the perspiration as possible, and pliable that they may 

 not injure the skin when brought in contact with it by the 

 harness. The quantity will be in accordance with the 

 design of the sweat. The first that takes place in the 

 preparation is to get rid of surplus fat, not expecting as 

 yet much advantage to the lungs. A slow pace and heavy 

 clothing will accomplish this purpose. As we advance, 

 lighter clothes with some horses none at all and a fast 

 pace are required. Sweating is of so much importance 

 that we will have to give it great consideration ; and as 

 the time for your horses to go throiigh the fiery ordeal 

 is yet distant, we will postpone the discussion till we 

 bring it in actual practice. The cost of clothing, at the 

 present day, is one of the heaviest items in the expenses of 



