120 TRAINING. 



too strongly for some horses ; but if the skin and 

 coat are fine, and the horse restless, that must be 

 gentle too. The hair-brush well applied thrice to 

 the horse and once to the curry-comb, not thrice to 

 the curry-comb and once to the horse, is to follow 

 thirdly ; a dry cloth to wipe away all the loose hairs, 

 fourthly ; and then throw a light blanket jhool over 

 the body, to be taken off about half-past ten, if the 

 weather is warm, after he has finished his grain and 

 grass. Now offer him the small dhool of water ; take 

 the chill off if it strikes you as cold, or he hesitates to 

 drink it without, which is often the case in December 

 and January, in the middle of the day as well as in 

 the morning, especially if drawn from a well ; then 

 proceed to the legs, commencing with the hand-rub- 

 ber, and finishing with the brush. Lastly, pick the 

 feet out, and wash them in warm (not too hot) soap 

 and water ; but above all things, be particularly at- 

 tentive to drying the heels quickly, not scrubbing 

 them too strongly, with a coarse towel : when dried, 

 put on the ointment. The eyes and face may be 

 washed in the warm water too, with a large sponge, 

 this being as comfortable to your horse as to your- 

 self. The grain is now to be given : half an hour 

 afterwards a dhool of water, and then four or five 

 poolies, nine or ten pounds, of sweet dry grass. * 

 Half a bedding of litter is also to be thrown down, 

 (but this may be omitted during the first month, 

 unless an inclination to lie down in the day is ob- 

 served,) always putting some of the old well trodden, 

 that has been dried in the sun, uppermost ; for this 

 answers three most useful purposes : it prevents 



* This is by far too much. Not more than three or four pounds at the 

 outside ought to be given at any one time. ED. 



