STABLE OPERATIONS. 103 



the hottest days in summer, a general bathing is wonderfully 

 refreshing to a horse that has run a stage at the rate of ten 

 miles an hour. It cleans the skin more effectually than any 

 other means, and with less irritation to the horse ; it renders 

 him comfortably cool, and, under certain conditions, it does 

 him no harm. Those employed in public conveyances are 

 almost the only horses that require it. During very hot 

 weather they suffer much from the pace at which they travel. 

 They come off the road steeped in perspiration, but in a few 

 minutes they are dry. The coat is thin and short, and the 

 hairs glued together by dirt and sweat ; to raise and separate 

 them with the currycomb is productive of much pain, greatly 

 aggravated by the fevered condition of the horse. The best 

 way of cleaning a horse in this state, is by washing him. 

 The operation is performed by the water-brush and the sponge. 

 The horse should stand in the sun. The man, taking a large 

 coarse sponge in his hand, usually commences at the neck, 

 close to the head ; he proceeds backward and downward till 

 he has bathed the horse all over. This may be done in two 

 minutes. Then, dipping his brush in the water, he applies it 

 as generally as the sponge, drawing it always in the direction 

 of the hair, without any rubbing. The sponge merely applies 

 the water ; the brush loosens and removes the dust and per- 

 spiration which adhere to the hair. The sweat-knife is next 

 employed, and the horse being scraped as dry as possible, he 

 is walked about in the sun for half an hour, more or less, till 

 he be perfectly dry. During the time he is in motion the 

 scraper is reapplied several times, especially to the belly, 

 and the horse gets water at twice or thrice. When quite dry 

 he is stabled, and wispedover, perhaps lightly brushed, to lay 

 and polish his coat, and when his legs are well rubbed he is 

 ready for feeding. 



To the hackney and the stage-coach horse, a bathing of 

 this kind may often be given with great benefit. It improves 

 the appearance of the skin, and subdues that fevered state of 

 the system in which horses often remain for a long time after 

 severe exertion under a burning sun. It must not be over- 

 done. The horse should be washed and dried as quickly as 

 possible. The object is to render him comfortably cool, not 

 to freeze him. Upon cold, wet, or cloudy days, it is forbid- 

 den, and after sunset it is out of the question. For slow 

 working horses it is neither necessary nor proper. The ex- 

 citement of their work is so moderate, that the circulation 

 becomes tranquil soon after the work is over. They are not 



