HOURS OF GROOMING. 321 



tween work would require no grooming, except for appearance 

 sake. The protection given by clothing is self-evident. Also, 

 nutritious food fortifies the system against inclement weather. 

 From a wide experience in India with Army horses picketted 

 in the open, I can say that ordinary undipped animals which 

 are well fed and have a warm rug, are all the better for being 

 groomed, even when the temperature falls to, say, 27 F. In 

 such cases it is well to know, as we shall presently see, that 

 wisping is not only more conducive to health than brushing, 

 but it also diminishes to a less extent the protective power of 

 the coat. High wind and rain will greatly augment the 

 effects of cold. 



HOURS OF GROOMING. 



The best time to groom a hard-working horse is on his re- 

 turn from labour ; for then appropriate grooming will perform 

 its most valuable office of lessening the danger of chill by 

 preventing the surface from cooling too rapidly. Also, when 

 the skin is warm, it will be easier to .distribute the secreted 

 oil over the skin and through the coat, than when it is cold. 

 It is evident that the object of fortifying the horse's skin 

 against cold air outside by grooming, is of no great import- 

 ance, supposing the animal is put to quick work immediately 

 he leaves the stable. Hence, in most cases (even in- 

 cluding those of racehorses), the early morning grooming is of 

 a light description ; the serious strapping being reserved until 

 the return home. Even if it were necessary to make a horse 

 look as smart as possible before taking him out of the stable, 

 as would be the case with fashionable carriage horses, we 

 should not neglect to thoroughly stimulate his skin when he 

 comes back, supposing that he had done a fair amount of 

 work outside. When there is plenty of help in the stable, the 

 grooming may generally be carried out in a manner similar to 

 that usually employed with racehorses, namely, a light groom- 



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