56 GEOOMING. 



reader suppose the work of the day to have been heavy, the 

 weather severe, and the horses to arrive at home drenched with 

 rain, and hungry for food. They are housed as quickly as 

 possible, and the work commences in earnest. They are first 

 stripped of the harness, except the collars ; or if they have 

 been ridden, the bridles are taken off, and the girths merely 

 slackened. Pirst, the horses are to be scraped with a flexible 

 scraper ; this rapidly removes the loose water from the hair and 

 skiu. They are then clothed with hood, breast-cloth, and a 

 couple of body rugs. The feet are next inspected, and if found 

 free from stones, stumps of naUs, or foreign bodies of every 

 kind, they are washed out with tepid water, the legs being 

 washed at the same time, and rapidly scraped ; after which they 

 are bandaged higher than the knees before, and the hocks 

 behind. Each horse is then led into his stall, and allowed three 

 or four quarts of water, or (what is better) about the same 

 quantity of warm gruel. They are then fed with about half 

 their usual allowance of com. A little straw is spread beneath 

 their feet ; and they are left perhaps for an hour, at the end of 

 which time they are allowed their fill of water or gruel, or both. 

 More corn is given, the collars or the saddles are removed, and 

 the clothing re-adjusted. If the limbs are dry (not otherwise) 

 the bandages are taken away, and the legs hand-rubbed. The 

 straw is carefully shaken down, and the beds are made comfort- 

 able. The racks are partly filled with hay ; the feet are stopped 

 vrith cow's dung ; the lights put out ; the doors made secure ; 

 and the horses are left for the night. 



It must be understood, however, that the grooming pro- 

 cesses thus described constitute the more simple features of the 

 business. In large establishments, numberless requirements of 

 a different nature are constantly demanding the care of those in 

 attendance. Some horses are exceedingly difficult to manage :, 



