40 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



severe walking exercise, the benefit of immersing tlie feet in 

 warm water for a sliort time must be fully appreciated by all 

 who have tried it ; but I very much question if any man would 

 feel himself stronger upon his legs the next morning, by having 

 them bandaged with hot flannels during the night. Very much 

 may be done by the judicious use of hot and cold water, in fact, 

 more than by half the prescriptions in general use ; but the 

 proper time must be attended to as Avell, for its application. 

 When a horse has had a long and severe day's work, he should 

 not be harassed more than is absolutely necessary, by grooming 

 and dressing ; the chief business shouldbe to get him dry and 

 comfortable as quickly as possible, and when that has been 

 eftected, a slight wisping over with a dry cloth will be suffi- 

 cient for that night. 



CHAPTER VT. 



Essentials for dressing and cleaning a liorse — Clothing to be suited to tempera- 

 ture and time of year, — To be changed in order to ensure its drjaiess — 

 Separate cleaning-rooms — Too much artificial treatment prejudicial — 

 Dangers of sudden heats and colds — Death of a horse through inflamma- 

 tion induced by wrong treatment — Another anecdote — Absurd trouble 

 taken by grooms, and iinhealthy habit of hissing, pvifHng, and blowing 

 while rubbing down the animal — Amusing mistakes, but ultimate success 

 of a sailor turned farmer — Ancient laws for the proper treatment of old 

 horses, and want of similar humanity in the present day — Instances of 

 ill-treatment of old horses — Anecdote of Charles, Duke of Calabria. 



The usual appliances in dressing and cleaning a horse are a 

 currycomb and brush, wisp of hay, and dry cloth, with a sponge 

 and water brush for the feet, and a small comb for the mane and 

 tail. With horses of fine coats, or with those which have been 

 clipped, the currycomb is too rough to be often used, unless 

 wliere dirt or clay tenaciously adheres to the hair, and then it 

 should be applied with a very light hand on the surface only, so 

 as not to scratch the skin ; it is more properly adapted to clean 

 the brush only, the use of which is indispensable to keep the 

 coat free from dirt and scurf. 



The clothing should be adapted to the season of the year as 

 well as the temperature of the stable ; and it is far preferable to 

 have a cool stable and more clothing than a hot one with less. 

 Until the weather becomes cold and chilly, a linen cloth is the 

 best, and quite sufficient for any horse. At the end of October, 

 the woollen rug may be substituted, but there is seldom occa- 



