202 GROOMING. 



orcd as an expedient to be resorted to in extreme cases, 

 but only to be continued so long cis the stable-man is prc- 

 viMited from giving the necessary grooming to the horse ; 

 llie moment tlie stable-man is at liberty, let all due attention 

 be given. 



The le'^s of horses are most particularly subject to dirt 

 and mud ; hence they often require washing, which is fre- 

 quently done by stable-men, but unfortunately they rarely 

 take the trouble to dry them ; they are sutlered to dry of 

 themselves ; the consequence is, evaporation commences, 

 and although the inflammation which ensues may be al- 

 layed by subsequent treatment, yet greasy heels are too 

 commonly induced by this mode of treatment. There is 

 but one way to avoid these mischiefs, and that is, either be 

 sure to dry the feet whenever you wash them, or do not 

 wash them till you can dry them. 



The bed. — A good bed is essential to a hard or fast- 

 workmg horse, and the best material for it is wheat-straw 

 or oat-straw ; the straw or haulm of beans or pease will 

 not make a good bed, and can be more advantageously 

 used as fodder. 



A bed is not well made unless it is as level and even as 

 a mattrass ; nor should it have any lumps or perceptible in- 

 equalities in it. If the straw be cut into two by a hay- 

 knife, it will spread the better. Spread the litter well out, 

 and let it be levelled on the top, and square behind : it 

 should slope from each side, and from the head, towards the 

 centre. If an inexpert stable-man have to do this, let him 

 be properly taught — let him learn how to use the fork, and 

 how to spread the litter. Let him have a pattern-bed made 

 in an adjoining stall by an experienced hand, and let him 

 copy this ; a week's practice this way will be quite enough; 

 if he do not learn in that time, he is not worth any further 

 teaching. 



The soiled litter and dung should be removed every 

 morning, unless the horses are going to work ; in which 

 case it may be delayed till they are gone. The dry litter 

 should then be thrown forward, and the wet and soiled lit- 

 ter carefully removed to the manure heap, or put out to 

 dry ; the stalls and gangways may then be swept well out, 

 and now and then, if necessary, and the weather be fine 

 and dry, a pail-ful of wat r m?y be thrown down, to rende^ 



