94 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA 



cools down, and then the wisp should be applied, begin- 

 ning first of all at the part under the saddle. 



I have never found the slightest ill-effect accrue from 

 removing the saddle immediately the horse comes in, 

 however heated he might be, provided always the skin 

 under it was thoroughly well dried without delay. 



Shedding the Coat. — The horse sheds his coat twice 

 in the year — in the autumn and in the spring. At the 

 former time, his fine summer hair falls out, to be replaced 

 by a thicker and longer covering, which, in its turn, gives 

 place to the other. If, while the coat is changing in the 

 spring, the brush, or other means, be employed to hasten 

 the process, the hair-follicles will become prematurely 

 exposed to the action of the air, and, consequently, will 

 become stimulated to secrete a coarser form of hair than 

 they would have done had their natural protection 

 remained on for its allotted period. Hence, the new 

 summer coat will be rougher than it ought to be, and its 

 appearance will, consequently, be more or less spoiled. 

 On this account, when the coat is being shed during that 

 time, the brush should not be applied to it, nor should 

 it be hand- rubbed. The wisp and rubber will then be 

 sufficient for grooming purposes. 



In India, the shedding of the coat of horses that are 

 well groomed and warmly clothed takes place to a far 

 less extent than in England. 



Care of the Feet and Legs. — The horse's feet shoiild 

 neither be washed nor " stopped ; " for the former practice 

 is the fruitful cause of " cracked heels ; " and the latter 

 induces thrush, and softens and weakens the sole, frog, 

 and crust. The old ideas of " thinning " the sole, and 



