STABLE OPERATIONS. 83 



ercise is often given before breakfast, the horse getting wat-sr 

 in the stable, or out of doors, and his grain upon returning. 

 In winter, the horse is dressed in the morning, and exercised 

 or prepared for work in the forenoon. He is again dressed 

 when he comes in ; at mid-day he is fed. The remainder 

 of the day is occupied in much the same way, the horse re- 

 ceiving more exercise and another dressing ; his third feed at 

 four, and his fourth, at eight. The hours of feeding vary accord- 

 ing to the number of times the horse is fed. Hunters are usual- 

 ly fed live times a-day during the hunting season. The most 

 of saddle-horses are fed only three. The allowance of grain 

 for all working-horses should be given in at least three por- 

 tions, and when the horse receives as much as he will eat, it 

 ought to be given at five times. These should be distributed 

 at nearly equal intervals. When the groom is not employed in 

 feeding, dressing, and exercising the horse, he has the stable 

 to arrange several times a-day, harness to clean, some of the 

 horses to trim, and there are many minor duties which he 

 must manage at his leisure. The stable is usually shut up 

 at night about eight o'clock, when the horse is eating his 

 supper. 



Dressing before Work. — To keep the skin in good order, 

 the horse must be dressed once every day, besides the clean- 

 ing, which is made after work. This dressing is usually 

 performed in the morning, or in the forenoon. It varies in 

 character according to the state of the skin and the value of 

 the horse. The operation is performed by means of the brush, 

 the currycomb, and the wisp, which is a kind of duster, made 

 of straw, hay, matting, or horse-hair. 



The Brush, composed of bristles, and varying in size to suit 

 the strength of the operator, removes all the dust and furfura- 

 ceous matter lodged at the roots of the hair, and adhering to its 

 surface. It also polishes the hair, and w^hen properly applied, 

 the friction probably exerts a beneficial influence upon the 

 skin, conducive to health, and to the horse's personal ap- 

 pearance. 



The Currycomb is composed of five or six iron combs, each 

 having short small teeth ; these are fixed on an iron back, to 

 which a handle is attached. There is also one blade, some- 

 times two, without teeth, to prevent the combs from sinking 

 too deep. The currycomb serves to raise and to separate the 

 hairs that are matted together by perspiration and dust, and to 

 remove the loose mud. Like the brush, it may also stimulate 

 the skin, and have some effect upon the secretions of this 



