314 SWEATING HORSES. 



very vicious, in his sweat, and, on his being pulled 

 up to be scraped, the groom ordered a little boy 

 that had lately come into the stables to take 

 charge of my horse's head. I knew the disposi- 

 tion of my horse well, and had my doubts of the 

 capability of the boy, as regarded both his 

 strength and knowledge, and was afraid of what 

 might happen ; nor was it long before my fears 

 became realized, for we had scarcely begun to 

 scrape the neck and fore quarters of the horse in 

 question, when he seized the poor boy by the 

 upper part of the arm, and, raising his head at 

 the same time, he drew the little fellow off the 

 ground, and with apparent contempt threw him 

 from him. The groom then ordered me to take 

 charge of my horse's head myself, which is what 

 he ought to have done at first. I repeat, that 

 a small boy should never be entrusted to hold 

 any horse's head disposed to be vicious, at the 

 time he is going to be scraped. Other accidents 

 similar to the one just described often occur 

 where the small boys are imprudently selected, 

 and cause their being laid by for some time ; 

 which was the case in the instance above al- 

 luded to. 



The manner of dressing race horses in the 



