Food, Grooming, Water, Clipping 267 



not cursed with a heavy coat, is as well or better 

 without it, if assured, as he should be, of adequate 

 stable care; or his body may be clipped, and the 

 legs, chest, etc., left covered, presenting possibly an 

 odd appearance, but not more so than the docked 

 and " hog-maned " horse of fashion. This method 

 protects the extremities and the vital points of the 

 lungs, etc.; the blood returns from the legs at a 

 reasonable temperature; and a single blanket will 

 prove as warm to a horse thus treated as two or 

 more to the creature denuded of all his hair. If in 

 vigorous health the coat will be short and glossy, 

 if the horse is fairly well-bred, and a little trimming 

 about the fetlocks will make everything shipshape. 

 The coat of such a one will also shed very early — 

 and, by the way, when this is taking place do not 

 expect too much of him, for he will probably be 

 sympathetically out of sorts. 



Gray and white horses must be washed, at least 

 about the joints and quarters, with soap and water ; 

 a little blueing (washerwoman's) will remove any 

 stains; white stockings, etc., must be similarly 



