SWEATING 193 



underneath one having the ears cut off — will complete 

 the clothing. The horse may now be sent on his journey, 

 the length of which, as well as the amount of clothing, 

 will depend on the style of the animal and on the heat 

 of the weather. If the sweat be given in September, 

 October, February, or March, it will be quite enough to 

 send a stout, hardy, well-bred horse two miles at a trot, or 

 very slow canter, and another two miles at half speed, 

 which would be about six minutes for the latter distance 

 (taking into consideration the extra weight of the sweaters), 

 and the pace may be slightly improved for the last half- 

 mile. After this, he is trotted to his rabbing-down shed, 

 the girths of the saddle are slackened, and he is covered 

 over with more clothing for about ten minutes, or until 

 the sweat begins to trickle freely down his legs, and drop 

 from his fetlocks. If the trainer perceives by his laboured 

 breathing that the horse is much distressed, he should lose 

 no time in relieving him of the clothing, the hoods being 

 first removed and the neck well scraped, wisped down, and 

 dried ; particular care being taken to dry the space between 

 the jaws. 



The saddle and blanket across the chest are taken off, 

 and after that the body clothing. Each part on being 

 uncovered, is scraped and dried in succession. The horse 

 should now get about a gallon of water to drink, and a 

 suit of dry clothing, rather light than heavy, and suitable 

 to the weather, being put on, he should be walked about 

 for a few minutes, so that the trainer may see whether he 

 will " break out " again or not. If this occurs, he should 

 be stripped, dried, saddled, and ridden quietly about, in 

 the direction of his stable, till he has cooled down. But 







