410 THE HOKSE. 



and tlie wisp, wliicli is a kind of duster, made of straw, hay, 

 matting, or horse-hair. 



The brush, co'hi])osed of bristles, and varying in size to suit 

 the strength of tlie operator, removes all the dust and furfura- 

 ceous matter lodged at the roots of the hair, and adhering to its 

 surface. It also polishes the hair, and when properly applied, 

 the friction probably exerts a beneficial influence upon the 

 skin, conducive to health, and to the horse's personal appear- 

 ance. 



The curr3"comb is composed of five or six iron combs, each 

 having short small teeth ; these are fixed on an iron back, to 

 which a handle is attached. There is also one blade, some- 

 times two, without teeth, to prevent the combs from sinking too 

 deep. The currycomb serves to raise and to separate the hairs 

 that are matted together by perspiration and dust, and to remove 

 the loose mud. Like the brush, it may also stimulate the skin, 

 and have some effect upon the secretions of this organ ; but 

 except among thick, torpid-skinned, long-haired horses, it is too 

 harsh for this purpose. In grooming thoroughbred, or fine- 

 skinned horses, its principal use is to clean the dust from the 

 brush, which is done by drawing the one smartly across the 

 other. 



The wisp is a kind of duster. It removes the light dust and 

 the loose hairs not taken away by the brush ; it polishes the 

 hair and makes the coat lie smooth and regular. The brush 

 penetrates between the hairs and reaches the skin, but the wisp 

 acts altogether on the surface, cleaning and polishing only those 

 hairs, and those portions of hairs, which are not covered by 

 others. Applied with some force, the wisp beats away loose 

 dust lodged about the roots. It is often employed to raise the 

 temperature of the skin, and to dry the hair when the horse is 

 cold and wet. In many stables the currycomb and the wisp 

 form the principal, or the only instruments of purification. 



Yaluable horses are usually dressed in the stable. The 

 groom tosses the litter to the head of the stall, puts up the gang- 

 way bales, turns round the horse, to have his head to the light, 

 removes the breast-piece, and hood, when a hood is worn ; he 

 takes away the surcingle and folds back the quarter-piece, but 

 does not remove it entirely. It keeps the dust off the horse. 



