GEOOMING. 89 



times : a process that always seems to refresh the 

 animal. When hand-rubbing, the stroke should be 

 commenced by bringing the flat of the hand each one 

 to be used alternately well under the belly, down 

 the fore-hand, thigh orgaskin, or between the fore-legs, 

 as the case may be, and it should then be drawn up 

 with a steady pressure. As the hand is raised, the 

 elbow should be turned out, and the under part of the 

 bared forearm should be brought into play against the 

 grain of the coat. In doing this, the weight of the 

 body and strength of the arm should be utilised. 



With a valuable horse, one should put two men on 

 the legs, and two on the rest of the body. The quicker 

 the hand-rubbing is done, the more effectual will it 

 prove. 



On an average, the wisping down will take about 

 ten minutes ; the hand-rubbing, somewhat longer. 



If only two men be available, the legs below the 

 knees and hocks should be left untouched until a later 

 period of the grooming. 



The hand-rubbing being finished, a syce on each side 

 should go over the coat with the body brush, for the 

 cleaning of which, only, should the curry-comb be 

 employed. 



The brush should have long and rather soft bristles, 

 and should be used only in the direction in which the 

 hair lies, and not against it ; as, with the grain, it will 

 most effectually remove the dandruff, which is thrown 

 off by the skin in the form of scales that are pierced by 

 the hairs. The syce should place the brush lightl}' on 

 the coat, so as to avoid hurting the skin, and should 

 then press on it, as he makes his stroke downwards. 



