68 TREATMENT OF HORSES 



the box, to allow of the horse having good foot- 

 hold for it to stand safely on while being dressed. 

 The boy having done these little matters, and 

 swept out the stable, after putting on his horse's 

 dressing muzzle, and having securely shortened 

 the rack-chain, strips off his horse's clothes, and 

 gives him a good dressing. This done, the horse 

 is re-clothed, and his saddle put on, and a hood 

 may be thrown over his quarters, while the boy 

 is rubbing his horse's legs for a short time ; after 

 this, he sets fair the bed, and again sweeps out 

 the stable. This being done, as the horse is not 

 now supposed to be in training, his head is let 

 down to the length of the chain, and a bit of hay, 

 by way of amusing him, may be put in his rack 

 or manger; the stable- door is now locked up, 

 and the horse is left ready (all but bridling) to 

 go out with the other horses, either before or 

 after breakfast, as the groom may direct, or as 

 weather may permit. The horse, having been 

 out and done his exercise, returns to his box ; 

 here he is dressed and attended to in every re- 

 spect as in the morning; having done his corn, 

 his hay is given to him. The boy should now take 

 the precaution to remove every sort of implement 

 out of the box; having put them away, he returns 

 again, and lets down his horse's head, leaving 



