SWEATING. 195 



interfere with the action of his forelegs the ends 

 are crossed over his neck, chest, and withers, and are 

 brought down on each side, under the place for the 

 saddle, which is now put on, and which will keep his 

 chest rug in its place. A couple of hoods the under- 

 neath one having the ears cut off will complete the 

 clothing. The horse may now be sent on his journey, 

 the length of which, as well as the amount of clothing, 

 will depend on the style of the animal and on the heat 

 of the weather. If the sweat be given in September, 

 October, February, or March, it will be quite enough 

 to send a stout, hardy, well-bred horse two miles at a 

 trot, or very slow canter, and another two miles at half 

 speed, which would be about 6 minutes for the latter 

 distance (taking into consideration the extra weight of 

 the sweaters), and the pace may be slightly improved 

 for the last half-mile. After this, he is trotted to his 

 rubbing -down shed, the girths of the saddle are 

 slackened, and he is covered over with more clothing 

 for about ten minutes, or until the sweat begins to 

 trickle freely down his legs, and drop from his fetlocks. 

 If the trainer perceives by his laboured breathing 

 that the horse is much distressed, he should lose no 

 time in relieving him of the clothing, the hoods being 

 first removed and the neck w r ell scraped, wisped down, 

 and dried ; particular care being taken to dry the space 

 between the jaws. 



The saddle and blanket across the chest are taken 

 off, and after that the body clothing. Each part on 

 being uncovered, is scraped and dried in succession. 

 The horse should now get about a gallon of water to 

 drink, and a suit of dry clothing, rather light than 



