78 STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



Brushes and Gear. 



The grooming utensils required in an Indian stable 

 are very simple : a horse-brush, curry-comb, bucket, 

 some dusters, and a hoof-picker, being the sum total ; 

 but only one of these last is required among five or 

 six horses. It is best to get English bristle brushes, 

 they last out two of the native fibre ones, and are 

 very little more expensive. Good horse-brushes are 

 made by several firms in Cawnpore, and, of course, 

 when a large number are used, the saving is con- 

 siderable if the country-made article is bought, but 

 where only a small number are required, this is a 

 false economy. 



Curry-combs. 



These an Indian " syce " cannot get on without, 

 and although he only uses it to wear out the 

 brush, still, after all, it does not do so very much 

 harm ; but a bad, lazy man, if he is not prevented, 

 will use it to scrape the dirt off the horse with. 

 Country-breds are generally very thin-skinned, and 

 feel the comb very much if scarified with it, as 

 the " syce " is very fond of doing ; and I am positive 

 that this practice in many cases has to account 

 for much of the proverbial bad temper of these 

 animals. The curry-comb should never be put on 



