GROOMING WASHING. !K> 



feet and heels lastly, if they must be washed; but, un- 

 less they are dirty, it is quite unnecessary. That 

 abominable English custom of washing a horse's legs 

 when he first comes in, and that often in cold water, 

 tends to produce windgalls, cracks in the heels, and 

 contraction. In the cold weather, it is true, it is 

 generally done with warm water ; but the rubbing and 

 scrubbing to dry the heels, and then the draught of 

 cold wind they are exposed to in a stable, is apt to 

 produce cracks as well. In India, once every other 

 day, when he is finished cleaning, at four o'clock in 

 the afternoon, is quite often enough to wash his legs : 

 the chill should be taken off the water in the cold 

 weather. 



Should you be lately from England, you perhaps 

 have as great an aversion to wash your horse's body 

 as you have a predilection for washing his legs. 

 Some grooms have, I know, a great dislike, even in 

 the height of summer (the only time it is asked), to 

 wash a blood-horse all over : they think it looks strange, 

 and fancy it spoils his coat. The poor post-horse 

 gets the advantage here, only that he frequently goes 

 in hot. Do not be prejudiced : you are now in India, 

 and, for three or four of the hot months in the year, 

 your horse, especially if he is a high caste one, should 

 be taken to the river three times a week, about noon, 

 before he has his one o'clock feed, and washed all 

 over : he enjoys a lie-down in the water ; it refreshes 

 and invigorates him greatly. In May, and the very 

 hot months, if he perspires about twelve o'clock, half 

 an hour before sunset should be chosen, and let him 

 have his walk afterwards. Always take care that he 

 does not remain in above ten minutes, and that he is 

 rubbed down dry, and moved off in as short a time. 



