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The Work Iorse 265 
need not be largely used, except when the horse is partic- 
ularly dirty or sweaty, when it will be needed to get the 
hair in condition so that fiber brush, and later the bristle 
brush, will thoroughly clean out the hair. A satisfactory 
system of currying is to start with the curry comb and 
fiber brush and thoroughly go over the animal with these 
two instruments, and then follow over the animal with the 
fiber brush, followed with the bristle brush, since the latter 
will clean out the skin better than the fiber brush, although 
it will not loosen the particles as well. The hair on the 
legs must not be neglected, but must be thoroughly 
brushed out. Otherwise this region will become impaired 
and grease heel, mud fever, or other ailments may result. 
The mane and tail should not be allowed to become too 
heavy, but should be thinned out occasionally by pulling 
or combing. On driving and saddle horses, the foretop 
should be kept clipped short back to about three inches 
behind the ears. Some men clip the foretop on draft 
horses, and also clip their manes, but it is usually not cus- 
tomary. When the mane under the collar is clipped, the 
short stubby growth very often irritates the neck more 
than the long hairs. This is especially true if it is not 
kept short. 
BLANKETS 
The use of the blanket is to be recommended. In the 
summer the blanket should be very thin. A light burlap, 
little heavier than a fly net, is satisfactory. In the winter 
a heavier one may be used, but not too heavy, for there is 
more danger of the animal catching cold if he is accustomed 
to a heavy blanket in the stable. A storm blanket should 
be provided for the protection of the horse when obliged 
to work or stand out in bad weather. For draft horses, 
