THE HOKSE. 37 



the second, at the same time that it produces a glow on the 

 skin and a determination of blood to it, rouses all the energies 

 of the frame. It would be well for the proprietor of the horse 

 if he were to insist and to see that his orders are really obeyed 

 that the fine coat in which he and his groom so much delight 

 is produced by honest rubbing, and not by a heated stable and 

 thick clothing, and, most of all, not by stimulating or injurious 

 spices. The horse should be regularly dressed every day, in 

 addition to the grooming that is necessary after work. 



" When the weather will permit the horse to be taken out, 

 he should never be groomed in the stable, unless he is an 

 animal of peculiar value, or placed for a time under peculiar 

 circumstances. Without dwelling on the want of cleanliness, 

 when the scurf and dust that are brushed from the horse lodge 

 in his manger and mingle with his food, experience teaches, 

 that if the cold is not too great, the animal is braced and invig- 

 orated to a degree that can not be attained in the stable, from 

 being dressed in the open air. There is no necessity, however, 

 for half the punishment which many a groom inflicts upon the 

 horse in the act of dressing ; and particularly on one whose 

 skin is thin and sensible. The curry-comb should at all times 

 be lightly applied. With many horses, its use may be almost 

 dispensed with ; and even the brush needs not to be so hard, 

 nor the points of the bristles so irregular, as they often are. 

 A soft brush, with a little more weight of the hand, will be 

 equally effectual and a great deal more pleasant to the horse. 

 A hair-cloth, while it will seldom irritate and tease, will be 

 almost sufficient with horses that have a thin skin, and that 

 have not been neglected. After all, it is no slight task to dress 

 a horse as it ought to be done. It occupies no little time, and 

 demands considerable patience as well as dexterity. It will be 

 readily ascertained whether a horse has been well dressed, by 

 rubbing him with one of the fingers. A greasy stain will detect 

 the idleness of the groom. When, however, the horse is chang- 

 ing his coat, both the curry-comb and the brush should be 

 used as lightly as possible. 



