290 GR0O?fIMu. 



of llie groo7Ti, as tlioy sometimes strike out so quickly a. J 

 NO maliciously, that the groom is in great danger. A swii 'a\ 

 held in the luuid, in the view of" a kicker, and ligiitly >*\) 

 plied whenever he attempts to kick, may be useful ; out 

 generally speaking, the groom must try his best to sootne 

 and ct)ax the horse, and get over the business as expedi- 

 tiously atj he well can. The arm strap is sometimes used; 

 but this is so often productive of injury to the horse by 

 throwinir him down, that we will not further recommend 

 or describe it. 



Dressing after work is essential, and should not be ne- 

 glected or slovenly done. The process itself necessarily 

 varies : horses that have been merely slowly worked, only 

 require to be dried and cleaned ; those that have been at 

 fast work, require more attention. In winter, the horse 

 comes off the road, heated, wet, and muddy ; and in sum- 

 rrier, he is hot, drenched in perspiration, his coat matted, 

 and sticking to the skin ; at times he may be cool, but wet 

 and wretchedly muddy. In summer, after easy work, his 

 feet and legs should be washed and dried, andhis body dress- 

 ed in the usual manner. The wisp dries where perspira- 

 tion has moistened, the mud is removed by the currycomb, 

 and the brush polishes the hair, and lays the dust. When 

 thoroughly wet from rain or perspiration, he must be dried 

 by means of the scraper and the wisp ; and when heated, 

 he must be walked about till cool, and then cleaned and 

 dressed. 



The scraper is a very useful instrument : the groom, ta- 

 king it in his hands, passes over the neck, back, belly, 

 quarters, and sides — every place where it can operate ; ana 

 with a gentle steady pressure, he removes the wet, mud, 

 rain, and perspiration ; the legs are dried by a large sponge, 

 being apt rather to be injured by the scraper : when thus 

 treated, the horse, if hot, should be walked about a little : 

 if cool, he must be wisped and dried. 



No horse when perspiring copiously, after work, shouia 

 be stabled or suffered to stand still ; he being then especi- 

 ally susceptible of cold, or inflamed lungs. These evils 

 may be prevented by keeping in gentle motion till cool.— 

 The action of the heart, and the nerves, and their numerouis 

 auxiliaries, has been considerably increased, in thei-r en- 

 deavours to aid the extraordidary muscular exertion de- 

 manded by the tasV to which the horse has been put to. 



