TRIMMING THE MANE AND TAIL. 95 



work, the circumstances of which may prevent the 

 use of such applications. 



In this chapter I have already dwelt upon the evils 

 of washing the legs of the horse ; hence, I need not 

 further allude to the suhject, beyond saying that, if the 

 animal returns to the stable with his legs wet, or 

 covered with the mud, they should be dried by means 

 of the scraper, wisp, and rubber, as the case may be, 

 and hand-rubbed when dry. 



One should avoid hand-rubbing the legs when they 

 are wet ; as doing so will tend to remove the hair. 



Hand-rubbing the legs is a beneficial practice with 

 the generality of stabled horses ; for it not alone tends 

 to prevent stagnation of blood in the legs and feet, but 

 also, by the pressure exerted, promotes the absorption 

 of any effusions that may be present about the back 

 tendons and suspensory ligaments. 



Trimming the Mane and = Tail. The mane may 

 be trimmed by pulling out the longest locks, a little at 

 a time, having previously twisted them round the fore- 

 finger or a stick. If this annoys the horse, the long 

 ends may be divided by running a half-shut scissors 

 backwards and forwards across them, in the same 

 manner as hair-dressers trim ladies' hair. The ends are 

 held in the left hand, while the right uses the scissors. 



A space of about an inch and a half broad should be 

 cut out of the mane, just behind the ears, for the 

 passage of the head-stall of the bridle. 



When hogging the mane of a pony, it is customary, 

 in order to help the rider in mounting, to leave a lock 

 of hair. This, to be effective, should be about half way 

 up the neck. The easiest and neatest way to hog the 



