116 AMERICAN STABLE GUIDE. 



still use. The dandy-brush is an excellent and almost 

 indispensable article of the stable, and is used with advan- 

 tage and effect on the body and legs of horses that come 

 in warm, for straightening the hair, and removing dandruff 

 and other foreign matter. 



The moist sponge should now be used to wipe the eyes, 

 nose, &c. The hoofs may also be attended to in like man- 

 ner, and, if time and taste will admit, some hoof ointment, 

 colored to match the hoofs, can be applied to them with 

 advantage. For this purpose, the " resin ointment" of 

 the drug-stores will do, or equal portions of the oil of tar, 

 whale or sweet oil, colored as above. 



The beds should now be shaken, but thinly, over the 

 stalls, and a little out on the floor of th-e stable; the 

 " plate'^ laid down, or the " roll" be made, to give a tidy 

 and tasty appearance to the stable. To carry this taste a 

 little further, a four-inch fold of the blanket or sheet may 

 be turned upon itself on the quarter^ of the horse, and the 

 part thus made bare, or a portion of it, changed in shade 

 by four scores with a clean brush, leaving a square or dia- 

 mond in the centre, as the taste may be, of a different 

 shade or lay of hair, which is very pleasing in effect and 

 shows good grooming and taste. If the horses have been 

 on a journey the previous day and are fatigued, a good bed 

 should be allowed, so that the horse can lie down. We 

 have never seen horses injured by resting too much, but on 

 the contrary, by too much standing, thus wearing out both 

 feet and legs. That the legs may wear well vrith the body, 



