382 



CHAPTER XV. 

 STABLE ROUTINE. 



Racehorses and Steeplechasers Hunters Carriage Horses Vanners, Cart 

 Horses, etc. 



THE following routine may be observed with racehorses and 

 steeplechasers which are kept in boxes. 



The lad enters the stable at 6 in the morning all the year 

 round, or at half-past 5 during summer and at 6 in the winter. 

 If the horse has not had a constant supply of water during the 

 night, the lad draws fresh water, and lets him drink as 

 much as the animal likes, and puts a head-collar on him. 

 He picks out the feet, feeds, collects the dung and soiled 

 portions of litter, puts them into a skep, and deposits the 

 contents on the midden. On returning to the box, he heaps 

 up the bedding, if it is composed of straw, into two or three 

 corners with a stable fork ; sweeps out the floor with a broom ; 

 and removes to the midden all the swept-up dirt. If the 

 bedding is of peat moss or saw-dust, the mucking-out is 

 effected in the manner described on page 281. When the 

 horse has finished feeding, the lad racks him up ; takes off the 

 clothing by successive pieces while going over him with a straw 

 wisp ; cleans any soiled portions of the coat ; sponges out his 

 eyes, nostrils, dock, and, if necessary, sheath ; dries the wet 

 parts ; sets the coat with a rubber ; puts on the saddle ; and if 

 the weather is cold, places a rug over the saddle, and secures it 

 with a roller. As a rule it is advisable some time before the 

 animal quits the stable, to reduce the clothing as far as can be 



