CHAPTEE VII. 



GKOOMING AND STABLE EOQTINE. 



ON THE THEORY OF GROOMING WASHING THE HORSE CLIPPING 

 GROOMING DRESSING THE MANE AND TAIL TAPEEING- SHEDDING 

 THE COAT CARE OF THE FEET AND LEGS TRIMMING THE MANE 

 AND TAIL BOTS STABLE ROUTINE. 



On the Theory of Grooming. The skin of the 

 horse is composed of two layers. The inner layer, or 

 true skin, is tough and elastic, and is provided with 

 nerves and blood-vessels. In it exist a vast number 

 of narrow, minute depressions hair follicles which 

 secrete the hair that covers the body ; and, also, an 

 innumerable number of sweat-glands and oil-glands, 

 both of which possess minute tubes to convey their 

 respective secretions to the surface. The oil-glands are 

 specially connected with the hair, as their tubes open 

 either into the hair follicles, or close to the hairs. The 

 action of the oil is to keep the skin and hair soft and 

 pliable, and, also, to protect the skin from chill ; while 

 that of the watery fluid is chiefly employed in carrying 

 off, by evaporation, any excess of heat beyond the 

 standard temperature of health. The sweat of the 

 horse is composed of a mixture of these two secretions, 

 the former giving it a greasy character when he is fat ; 

 the preponderance of the latter, a watery appearance, 



