100 STABLE MANUAL AND HORSE DOCTOR 



weaken, bufc moderate exertion is good both for man and 

 beast. 



Sweating horses increases the labour of cleaning. Indolent 

 grooms, and those who have several horses to look after, 

 avoid this part of their business as much as possible : let no 

 such grooms be trusted. 



When a horse comes in from work or exercise, if perspir- 

 ing, wet and dirty, he should not be left until completely- 

 dry, clean, and comfortable. Some horses, in good condition, 

 will rub dry and clean in a short time, but others, with long 

 coats, and some from constitution or ill condition, are a long 

 time getting dry ; hence clipping and singeing, which may 

 be rendered unnecessary by diligent grooming. But these 

 points will be remarked upon presently. 



In some hunting establishments grooms only open the 

 stables twice a day, instead of three times, if the horses are 

 not at work. Instead of sending the horses starving out 

 the first dawn of the morning, they generally remain in the 

 stables till the men have had their breakfasts, and are 

 consequently not shut up till a little before mid-day. They 

 then remain quiet for six hours. The late Lord Kintore's 

 stable was conducted on this principle, and Nimrod, in 

 describing it, said : " I must own that, although I never 

 tried it, I see sound argument in favour of this stable 

 management during the three dark and dreary months of 

 winter, with horses that work hard, from a knowledge of 

 the restorative powers of undisturbed rest both with horse 

 and man ; as also of its sedative effects in allaying excite- 

 ment by whatever cause produced." 



The hours of exercising might be advantageously left 

 to the weather. Cold, damp, foggy mornings, the horses 

 would doubtless be better in their stables ; fine bright 

 mornings should be taken advantage of, lest the day should 

 change for the worse as it advances. There is no use in 

 getting horses out in winter before daybreak, unless indeed 

 the men (which is not at all improbable) have fixed a 

 particular hour for their own breakfasts. That breakfast 

 is one strong argument for exercising at a later period, the 

 men having no interest in hurrying and shortening their 

 work in order to get home to their morning meal. 



When horses, in returning from exercise, show any heat 

 or inflammation from saddle, girth, or harness, have ready 

 a wash of Goulard water — that is, four drachms of sugar 



