ON DRESSING RACE-HORSES. 243 



Stall. A groom may prevent a great deal of this oc- 

 curring, by not allowing such brushes to be made use 

 of in the stables. Indeed there are many thin-skinned 

 horses which would, in the height of summer, be much 

 better without being brushed over at all, at mid-day 

 stables particularly ; wisping them thoroughly with 

 well-damped wisps of garden matting, and afterwards 

 wiping them over with the rubber, putting their clothes 

 straight, combing out their manes and tails, and hand- 

 rubbing their legs for a short time, is all I should re- 

 commend being done to them prior to their being fed 

 at mid-day stables. 



As it has often fallen to my lot to look after such 

 horses, I shall endeavour to point out the best way to 

 dress them, so as to annoy them as little as possible. 

 Every thing that is done to the quiet horse in dressing 

 him is also to be done (if possible) to the high-coii- 

 raged, irritable one, but he will not permit its being 

 done exactly in the same manner. Therefore some 

 little stratagem, with good temper and great patience 

 on the part of the boy, is absolutely necessary, to pre- 

 vent the horse from losing his temper, becoming 

 violent, or breaking out in a sweat at the time of 

 dressing. 



As I have just observed, some horses of this de- 

 scription are resolutely vicious ; they freely use their 

 legs and feet, and are inclined to be rather more fami- 

 liar with their mouths than is pleasant. They will watch 

 their opportunity, and seize even the boy who looks 



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