196 THE HORSE. 



To make the mane lie smoothly on its proper side, which it 

 sometimes obstinately refuses to do, it must be plaited in small 

 locks, and the ends loaded with lead, if it cannot be made to lie 

 down without. An experienced groom, however, will generally 

 succeed in so managing the plaits that they lie close to the neck, 

 which is all that can be effected by the aid of lead, but some- 

 times the hair is so obstinate that nothing else will effect the 

 object in view. * 



USE AND APPLICATION OF BANDAGES. 



BANDAGES are applied to the legs of the horse for three differ- 

 ent purposes. First, to give support to the blood-vessels and 

 synovial capsules; secondly, as a vehicle for applying cold lotions; 

 and thirdly, for drying and warming them. 



For the mere purpose of support either linen or flannel bandages 

 may be put on, according to the weather, and the tendency to 

 inflammation. The legs of seasoned old horses are seldom so prone 

 to become hot as those of young ones, and excepting in very 

 warm weather, flannel bandages seem to suit them better than 

 linen. On the contrary, if flannel is applied to the legs of a colt, 

 even if they are not inclined to inflame, they will become hot and 

 uncomfortable, and he will learn to tear them off, in which some 

 horses become perfect adepts. Whichever kind of bandage is put 

 on, it should be previously tightly rolled with the strings inwards, 

 then taking it in the right hand, and unwrapping about six inches, 

 they are laid against the canna bone on the side nearest to the 

 groom, so that the folds shall have a tendency to unroll from him 

 and not to him. While the left hand keeps the end from slip- 

 ping, the right passes the roll of bandage closely round the leg 

 till it meets the left, when the latter, still pressing the end against 

 the leg, lays hold of the roll, and allows the right to be brought 

 back to meet it on the other side. After which the coils are re- 

 peated till the whole bandage is run out and the leg encased, one 

 row being slightly above or below the level of the next, as may 

 be required. The great art consists in avoiding unequal pressure, 

 and yet giving sufficient to accomplish the purpose for which 

 bandaging is designed. From the projection backwards of the 

 pastern -joints it is impossible to make the folds lie perfectly 

 smooth, and there must be loose parts, which however are covered 

 over by the next turn. No written description, however, will 

 suffice to teach this little operation, and the young groom should 

 watch a good bandager, and imitate him as exactly as he can. 

 The strings at the end serve to tie the bandage on, and these also 

 must neither be so tight as to cut the leg, nor so loose as to allow 

 the bandage to fall down. 



When cold lotions are to be applied by means of bandages, linen 



