CLOTHING 101 



of lead, diluted with water to a wine bottle full of fluid. 

 Bathe the part with it, and you will give comfort to the 

 animal, and perhaps prevent further and more troublesome 

 and painful consequences. This cold lotion should always 

 be at hand. 



CLOTHING. 



The advisability of clothing for the '' general purpose " 

 horse has been the subject of controversy in times by-past. 

 With racers and high-bred hunters clothing is indispensable. 



We have adapted the animal to an artificial life, and 

 artificial means are needed to keep him in the required 

 condition. In winter, clothing warms the animal and 

 improves his coat ; in summer (lighter), it keeps the 

 skin-temperature more equable, and prevents the irritation 

 of flies. We do not recommend, however, the complete 

 suit of the racer to the service of the hackney. 



Where stables are dry and cross-draughts avoided, a 

 horse-cloth is, to our thinking, enough. Much of the 

 heavier clothing may be dispensed with advantageously 

 where dry-rubbing is conscientiously carried out. Good 

 grooming is the surest prevention of sudden alternations 

 from heat to cold ; and we once again recommend that no 

 stable should ever bo without a registering thermometer, 

 that its temperature may not be the subject of guess. 



In the stable your horses should always have clothes 

 enough to keep them warm, but not hot. Grooms are 

 generally too fond of heaping rugs and blankets upon their 

 horses, for the purpose of improving the appearance of the 

 coat ; but depend on it, that too warm clothing not only 

 renders a horse more susceptible of cold than he should be, 

 but also diminishes the size and firmness of his muscles. 

 Employ, then, the "just mean" ; and however pretty may 

 be the appearance of a smart and thick rug, covered by 

 a gay body-cloth, and this again surmounted by a hood 

 thrown over the quarters, with the ears neatly peeping up 

 behind the rollers, do not sacrifice your horse's well-being 

 to appearances, which may be all very well in the show- 

 stables of a London dealer, but are uncalled for in those of 

 a sportsman. If your horse be clipped or singed, he will, 

 of course, require additional clothing, for a time at least. 



The hunter's clothing in cold weather is a kersey-sheet 



