Stable Management. 73 



quently the work of the horse is not so severe and dis- 

 tressing. 



On leaving hounds, the hunter should have some gruel 

 and a handful of hay at the first convenient place ; he may 

 then, if not fatigued, be ridden home at the rate of six or 

 seven miles an hour. On reaching the stable he will be 

 washed and scraped as dry as possible, a complete suit of 

 clothing put on, his legs bandaged with flannel bandages, 

 some chilled water and moist food given him, and left till 

 dry. He must then be wiped over, dry clothing put on, 

 his legs well hand-rubbed, dry bandages put on, again fed 

 and watered, and set fair for the night. 



The fair average day's work for a hack or harness horse 

 is nine or ten miles, in which case exercise is quite un- 

 necessary. More harm and injury are done to horses by 

 the grooms when at exercise than in any other way ; and 

 unless the man can be fully depended upon, the less they 

 are exercised the better. Where the horse is only occa- 

 sionally worked, exercise is of course absolutely necessary, 

 not only to preserve him in health, but to keep him steady 

 and from getting above himself. 



Clipping or Singeing 



Is one of the greatest improvements ever introduced 

 into stable management. It is a blessing not only to the 

 horse, but to every one who uses and attends to him. A 

 horse clipped or singed will not only do double the amount 

 of work on the same amount of food that a horse with his 

 natural winter coat will do, but in the one case he will be 

 fresh, cheerful, and full of vigour, while in the other he 

 will be dull, out of condition, and seldom or never dry 

 and clean. I have seen horses (hunters particularly) that 

 no care or food could get into condition till clipped or 

 singed, immediately change for the better, and get big in 

 their work. 



The best time to clip or singe a horse must depend 

 principally upon the state of his coat. Some shed their 

 coat so much earlier than others, while in some horses it 

 is much thicker and coarser. About the end of September 



