168 TKAINING IN INDIA. 



" sustaining " before his morning work. On the other 

 hand, it is certain that this practice of giving horses 

 an early feed causes them, in many instances, to 

 " scour " when taken out to work. We should, in such 

 cases, omit this light repast. The diarrhoea which is 

 set up in this manner, is due to the food, the digestion 

 of which was checked by exercise, acting as an irritant 

 to the alimentary canal. 



When a horse has finished his exercise, he may be 

 either walked home to his stable, or rubbed down on 

 the spot. If the latter plan be adopted, he may be 

 walked or trotted to the rubbing-down shed, or to the 

 lee of any favourable cover. The girths should be 

 slackened, and, if he be worked in clothing, his hood 

 should be quickly removed, and if there be any sweat 

 visible on his neck, it should be scrapsd off with the 

 copper scrapers that are made for this purpose, Above 

 all things, the hollow between the jaws should be care- 

 fully dried with a towel ; for neglect of this precaution 

 has often been the cause of subsequent cough, or sore- 

 throat. The bridle should now be changed for a 

 common watering one, as horses are apt to spoil the 

 reins by biting them whilst being groomed. If the 

 animal be restless, a man may stand in front with a rein 

 in each hand, and hold his head up ; while one or two 

 syces, at each side, rub him down with a wisp of dry 

 straw, or of sun (unprepared hemp). The wisps should 

 be rubbed well into the coat, and should not be used 

 as fans. If he be inclined to bite, the syce who holds 

 the reins may keep a stick in one hand pointing across 

 the horse's face, so as to keep him in order, or a muzzle 

 may be put on. The breastpiece is next removed ; the 



