STABLES 259 



STABLE MANAGEMENT 



Grooming is essential to the health and general appearance 

 of the horse. Systems of grooming vary fro'm the simple use of 

 the bare hand and arm, as practiced fcy the Indians, to the most 

 thorough and vigorous employment of a variety of utensils. 

 The more highly bred, finer coated horses require more delicate 

 treatment than the heavier coated and phlegmatic work horses. 

 Utensils in common use are the metal curry-comb, bristle body- 

 brush, com brush, rxib rag, sponge, wisp, and hoof picL All 

 grooming should be thorough but gentle, with due consideration 

 for the sensibilities of the horse. Dandruff consists of shed 

 particles of skin, waste products of metabolism, fat, and some 

 salt. It complete re^moval is the primary object of grooming. 



The first step usually is the use of the cun-y-comb the reverse 

 way of the hair for the removal of d-andruff and dry stable dirt, 

 if there be any. The curry-comb should never be used about the 

 head nor below the knees and hocks, should be dull (new ones 

 preferably filed dull), and used with the greatest care. It is 

 not permitted in many well-regulated stables, the wisp of straw 

 and the com brush accomplishing the same purpose. The bristle 

 or body brush is used the right way of the hair to remove what 

 the curry-comb or v\dsp has brought to the surface, also to brush 

 the head and legs. The com brush is used chiefly on mane and 

 tail, although the latter may require additional picking by hand. 

 The use of a comb, except on docked tails and pulled manes, is 

 not desirable. The rub rag, used the right way of the hair unless 

 in cooling out hot horses, puts the final finish on the coat. 



In show and race horses the rubbing may amount to a most 

 vigorous massage. The eyes, muzzle, and region under the tail 

 should be sponged off ; also the feet, after having been picked out. 

 White points may be washed if necessary. Motor brushes and 

 vacuum cleaners have not as yet been very generally adopted, 

 even in large stables (Fig. 134). 



Washing." — The frequent application of soap and water de 

 stroys the lustre of a horse's coat, beside rendering him espe- 

 cially liable to chill if not thoroughly dried out. Except in the 



