36 FIRST PRINCIPLES. 



cab horses in Russia during winter. These animals, which 

 are not clipped, are driven fairly fast in their work, and 

 often, when reeking with sweat, are pulled up and kept stand- 

 ing in the street for a considerable time. In such cases, the 

 perspiration becomes quickly frozen on the outside of the 

 coat into particles which are kept well away from the skin by 

 the hairs being long, and consequently the formation of this 

 icy layer produces little or no bad effect on the horse's health. 

 If these animals were exposed in an. iwaclipped condition to 

 such a trial, they would rarely escape a cough or a cold, if not 

 more serious disease ; unless they were covered over with 

 warm clothing the moment their work was stopped, which is 

 a precaution I have never seen taken in that country, except 

 with match trotters. Its neglect does not appear to be 

 accompanied by any bad result ; for the coats being left long, 

 the horses keep in health. According to the present 

 regulations in St. Petersburg, when the temperature of the 

 air goes down to 10 R. (9-5 F.), each cab driver is 

 obliged to provide his horse with a warm loin-cloth, which is 

 not removed during work. The question of the influence of 

 a long coat on work, will be discussed under the heading of 

 " Clipping "(P- 350). 



ABILITY OF HORSES TO BEAR EXTREMES OF 

 TEMPERATURE. 



Experience teaches us that horses in the open keep their 

 health better, especially as regards their organs of breathing, 

 and possess greater immunity from infective diseases, than 

 stabled horses, other things being equal. Mr. Miller tells 

 us (p. 390) that when polo ponies are turned out during the 

 winter in England, they prefer to sleep outside at night, even 

 when snow is on the ground, than to seek the shelter of a 

 comfortable hovel provided for them. The ponies to which 

 he alludes were well-bred and well-fed animals. I have noted 



