56 GEOOMIIfG. 



been ridden, the bridles are taken of, and the girths merely 

 slackened. Tirst, the horses are to be scraped with a flexible 

 scraper ; this rapidly removes the loose water from the hair and 

 skin. They are then clothed with hood, breast cloth, and a 

 couple of body rugs. The feet are next inspected, and if found 

 free from stones, stumps of nails, or foreign bodies of every 

 kind, they are washed out with tepid water, the legs being 

 washed at the same time, and rapidly scraped ; after which they 

 are bandaged higher than the knees before, and the hocks 

 behind. Each horse is then led into his stall, and allowed 

 three or four quarts of water, or, what is better, about the same 

 quantity of warm gruel. They are then fed with about half 

 their usual allowance of corn. A little straw is spread beneath 

 their feet ; and they are left perhaps for an hour, at the end of 

 which time they are allowed their fill of water, or gruel, or both. 

 More corn is given, the collars or the saddles are removed, and 

 the clothing re-adjusted. If the limbs are dry (not otherwise), 

 the bandages are tal^en away, and the legs hand-rubbed. The 

 straw is carefully shaken down, and the beds are made com- 

 fortable. The racks are partly filled with hay; the feet are 

 stopped with cow's dung ; the lights are put out ; the doors 

 made secure ; and the horses are left for the night. 



It must be understood, however, that the grooming processes 

 thus described, constitute the more simple features of the 

 business. In large establishments, numberless requirements of 

 a difi'erent nature are constantly demanding the care of those in 

 attendance. 5Some horses are exceedingly difiicult to manage. 

 They are difiicult from viciousness of temper, or in the dietetic 

 department. They may be greedy feeders, or delicate feeders ; 

 either of which cases occasionally requires in its management a 

 great deal of judgment. Some horses, upon becoming the least 

 deranged in their stomach, are at once attacked with acute 



