96 TREATMENT OF HORSES 



takes care that the water is mixed of a proper 

 temperature; but unless the water is hard, it will 

 not now require the chill being taken so much 

 off as in the depth of winter. As the water is 

 got ready, each boy takes up his bucket, and 

 proceeds to the stable, and waters his horse as 

 directed by the groom; after which, the horses' 

 muzzles are put on and their heads chained up, 

 and the whole of them being stripped, their 

 bodies are dressed, when they are again re- 

 clothed ; their muzzles and collars being taken 

 off, they turn round to have their heads dressed ; 

 which when done, they are turned round again 

 in the stable, their collars put on, their manes 

 and tails combed out, and they now stand with 

 their heads secure to the end of the chain, until 

 their legs are rubbed and their beds set fair. 

 Those little matters being done, and the mangers 

 cleaned out, the boys now, as in the morning, 

 proceed to the corn-binn, where they each re- 

 ceive from the groom, or head lad, the corn for 

 their horses; which being given to them, the boys 

 go out as before, the groom locks the stable 

 door, and the horses are left to eat their corn 

 undisturbed, while the boys are removing from 

 the yard the manure swept out from the stables. 

 The groom, having considered that the whole of 

 the horses have eaten their corn, returns and 



