STABLE MANAGEMENT 235 



a tired horse does not need much dressing down, and should 

 be comfortably clothed and left to rest as soon as possible ; 

 but often a horse will break out, some animals being much 

 more prone to this than others, and then hand-rubbing 

 must be resorted to, until the horse is fairly dry. Only 

 in very obstinate cases should it be left before it has become 

 dry, but when, as sometimes happens, it appears impossible 

 to get the animal to cease sweating, and it has to be left 

 awhile, care should be taken to remove the damp rug and 

 substitute a dry one, as soon as the sweating has at length 

 ceased. It should be borne in mind that as weakness is 

 often at the root of the matter, the administration of a 

 stimulant will frequently act like magic, and the coat dry up 

 as soon as the cordial begins to operate. 



Horses with long coats are always a long time in drying, 

 and it is most important, though strangely enough most 

 commonly neglected, that the animal should be put into 

 a toann stable during the process of drying. Evaporation 

 always involves cold, and if the surroundings are also cold 

 there is grave risk of a serious chill. In a stable warmed 

 by the presence of others and with no draughts present, 

 a long-coated horse can be placed in a loose box till he gets 

 dry, without much cause for anxiety ; but if placed in a 

 cold stable, particularly if he is by himself in a place 

 where he cannot move about, and the thermometer is low, 

 a light rug should be thrown over him until his coat has 

 dried. After that takes place he can go into a cold stable 

 with impunity, or even be turned out if used to being so, 

 and will take no harm. 



Though tired hunters need not receive much dressing 

 down on their return to their stables, it is a different 

 matter altogether after ordinary exercise, for then they 

 should be dressed with vigour, but at the same time without 

 violence or abuse, which high-couraged horses are apt to 

 resent, and frequently become vicious in consequence. It 

 is no uncommon thing to meet with an animal which one 

 man can do anything with, whilst with another it is savage 

 to a degree. After the dressing is concluded the legs claim 

 attention, and if they have been bandaged the bandages 



