868 GROOMING. 



meil \)y means of a hrush, a cui ryccirr b, and a wisp of straw 

 ()i- Horsehair. The brush removes the dust or other matter 

 which adheres to tlie roots of'the liair, and fills the pores ol 

 the skin. The currycomb serves to raise and separate the 

 hairs that become matted together by perspiration and dust. 

 The wisp may l)e considered as a duster ; it removes the 

 li filter dust and loose hairs not taken away by the brush; 

 polishing the hair, and renderhig the skin smooth and glos- 

 sy. The brush, as before observed, penetrates to the roots 

 of the hair, and clears the skin; while the wisp acts on the 

 surface, and cleans and polishes the hair. It is also used 

 to raise the temperature of the skin, and diy the hair, when 

 Uie horse comes in cold and wet. 



In dressing a horse in the stable, the ,groom removes its 

 litter to the head of the stall, and turns round the horse, to 

 have his head to the light. With the brush in one hand, 

 usually in the left, and the currycomb in the other, he com- 

 mences on the left side of the horse, and goes on till the 

 head and fore-quarter are finished; his hands then change 

 tools, and the like duty is perfcnuned to the right side of 

 tlie horse. 



Much care and patience are necessarj^ to clean the head 

 pioperly, the hairs running in such various ways, added 

 to the inequalities of the face requiring mere nicety thru 

 any otlier parts, excepting the feet ; the bcrs^e is also som-^- 

 times impatient of his head being so lonr ^rndor the gi'oom's 

 hands : from these reasons, it is often too ruich neglectel 

 by careless grooms; which should never he permitted. - 

 The dust about the roots of the hair, \vt\'^e ?n'\ outsid'^ 

 the ears, is remi^ved by a few strokes ol ih > b^Tsh ; but 

 the hair itself is polished by quickly and rtii'^-.^^dly drav^- 

 ing the hands over the entire ear. 



The whole of the fore part of the horse beh.o c<>rTp]eted, 

 the horse's head is again turned towards the lapr^'cr, and 

 secured there, that the body and hindquarters may receive 

 'lieir share of attention. It is usual to throw a little straw 

 under the hind feet, to keep them off the stones. The 

 clothes should now be taken to the door, and shaken ; and, 

 .f dry weather, exposed tothe air while the horse is dressing 



Every part of the body having undergone the required 

 brushing and curry combiner, the dust being entirely remo 

 ved from the skin, and the hair well polished, the whole 

 bjdy sliould 1)0 passed over with the wisp, a-ul then the 



