i68 TRAINING IN INDIA 



much the best plan, it is advisable to walk him, or, if he 

 be at all excitable, to have him led back to his stable. 

 In this case also I would give him half a bucket of water 

 to drink immediately after his work. 



If a horse's coat is long, a considerable amount of 

 hair can be got off by hand-rubbing him completely over 

 immediately after his gallop, in place of wisping him 

 down. For this, the help of four men is imperative, 

 lest any one part of his body be allowed to cool faster 

 than another. While hand-rubbing, the syces may 

 keep their hands damp with water, so as to get more 

 hair off. 



The grooming being finished, the horse gets the 

 remainder of his water — as much as he will drink — or 

 water and suttoo, as the case may be. He may have a 

 handful of dried doob grass to amuse himself with until 

 he gets his feed. The syce now tidies up the stable, lays 

 down the bedding, prepares and gives the corn. He 

 should not spend more than a quarter of an hour over 

 these preparations. 



I strongly advocate the practice of putting dried grass 

 before the horse at the same time that he gets his corn. 

 A supply of fresh water may with advantage be always 

 left in the stall. 



The stables are now closed till twelve or half-past, 

 and the horses are allowed to rest undisturbed. 



At noon the animal is lightly groomed, fed, and is 

 left again to himself till four or half-past, at which time 

 he is watered, groomed, and gets half a feed. After that, 

 he is taken out and walked for an hour to an hour and a 

 half. On returning, he is fed, clothed for the night, the 



