54 GEOOMII^'G. 



will next attempt to describe the duties of the groom to his 

 horses. 



Duties of the Gboom. — The duties of the groom will he 

 the best understood, by simply detaihng the entire process of 

 grooming. 



Beginning then with the groom in the morning, and termi- 

 nating with the close of his labours at night, we will afterwards 

 add a few comments upon sundry matters and things of a 

 kindred nature, which in so doing can be treated of in a more 

 consecutive and satisfactory manner. In the following outline, 

 I shall suppose one man to have the management of two horses. 



The time at which a groom enters the stable in a morning 

 will depend upon circumstances, such as the amount of work 

 performed by the horses the day previously, and the time at 

 which they w^ere left for the night. The general hour, however, 

 is six o'clock, the year round. The principal duties of the day 

 are these :— To give the horses water, corn, and hay ; to adjust 

 the straw, remove the manure, and sweep out the stalls ; to 

 dress the horses, and re-adjust their clothing ; to clean and put 

 in order the stable. At night the horses generally undergo a 

 similar course of treatment ; and the whole ought to be done 

 in a methodical and careful manner. A groom without method 

 is always busy ; while all things around him are in confusion 

 and disorder. If without method, he is either a very idle or 

 a very stupid fellow. If idle, he will be dirty in his 

 person. Grooms of this stamp are generally smokers, and are 

 seldom without a short pipe in their mouth. Not unfrequently 

 they smoke when performing the duties of the stable, when 

 washing the carriage, or cleaning the harness. They sometimes 

 wash themselves ; and then by the appearance of the dirt at the 

 back of their countenance, any one would suppose the act had 

 only been accomplished by forcing the neck of the fellow 

 into a pillory. Such men are all sibilation and breeches. 



