338 GROOMING. 



fore-lock, mane or tail does not lie smooth, it may be " laid " 

 by brushing it with a wet water-brush, which should not be 

 done, except for the purpose in question ; because wetting the 

 hair takes the gloss off it, and stimulates the production of 

 dandruff. 



It is the custom to make the mane lie to the off side ; 

 because, as we usually look at a horse from the near side, 

 his neck and shoulders will appear to better advantage than 

 if their lines were broken by the mane. The manes of 

 cavalry horses are made to fall on the near side, with the 

 object of helping the rider to take hold of the mane when 

 mounting. If the mane does not hang down properly, it 

 may be daily wetted, plaited, and small weights attached 

 to its ends ; or one of the various kinds of mane-layers may 

 be used. I have found that a thick paste of flour and water 

 plastered over the mane and kept down with a cloth, will 

 make the hair lie flat in a few days. The paste can be 

 washed off before the animal leaves the stable, and it can 

 be re-applied on his return. A plan which is generally 

 successful in removing the irritation which causes a horse 

 to rub his. tail, is to pour on and rub into the part a wine- 

 glassful of paraffin (kerosene) oil, and immediately after- 

 wards to do the same thing with a bottle full of water, 

 so as to remove any excess of oil. The oil would in all 

 probability blister the skin, if the greater part of it was 

 not washed off. For convenience sake, we may put the 

 wine-glassful of oil into the bottle, fill with water, shake 

 the bottle, and apply in the manner described. For further 

 information on the treatment of irritation of the tail or crest 

 (portion of the neck upon which the mane grows), see 

 Veterinary Notes for Horse-Owners. 



The eyes, nostrils, lips and dock should be cleaned, prefer- 

 ably with a damp sponge, each time a horse is groomed. 

 Once or twice a week, the groom should put his hand 



