188 THE HORSE. 



be left for a few minutes ; attention, in the meantime, being paid 

 to the thorough drying of the head and neck, which cannot well 

 be clothed advantageously. These parts soon dry; for in washing 

 them there is no occasion to wet the mane, which may be turned 

 over to the other side while each is being cleaned, and the ordinary 

 coat of the head and neck holds very little water. After they 

 are made comfortable, the cloth is turned partly back over the 

 loins, and the shoulders, ribs, and bosom are dried with the whisp 

 and rubber ; after which the whole is stripped off, and the hind 

 quarters thoroughly dried. 



A horse smothered in dirt is by careless grooms too often 

 left to dry with it all on ; and then it is brushed out, or, if idle- 

 ness reigns triumphant, a besom is taken in hand for the purpose. 

 Where the particles of mud are few and far between, and are 

 already dry or nearly so, there is no objection to their being re- 

 moved by friction alone ; but if they are wet and (as they gener- 

 ally are) in large masses, water must be used to get rid of them ; 

 and the whole of the legs, belly, flank, and tail will often require a 

 good slushing with a brush and water before the dirt is removed — 

 the tail being placed in the bucket itself, if it is a long one, and 

 thoroughly cleansed in that way. A scraper is then employed to 

 get rid of the water, the legs are superficially rubbed and then 

 bandaged, the clothing is thrown on, and the dressing may be com- 

 menced as usual. 



In case the skin is wet from rain, whether the work has 

 been fast or not, it is seldom necessary to provide against a continu- 

 ance of the moisture, for the chill of the rain will generally pre- 

 vent any tendency to break out in a sweat. The horse is, therefore, 

 at once taken into the stable, and, if very wet, he is scraped ; after 

 which he is rubbed over, and his clothing put on while his legs are 

 being attended to, by washing, bandaging, &c. The dressing is 

 then conducted as in the case of the horse coming in sweating in 

 cool weather. 



An exhausted hor.se demands all the resources of the groom's 

 art, without which he will suffer in more ways than one. An 

 extreme case seldom occurs, except in hunters, who require the 

 greatest care to bring them round after a severe run. On coming 

 into the stable, if their powers have been taxed to uhe utmost, and 

 their ears are cold and drooping, the first thing to be done is to get 

 these warm by friction ; an assistant, in the meantime, preparing 

 somo gruel, while another puts some warm flannel bandages on the 

 legs. It is wonderful what a restorative is found in the friction of 

 the cars, after a few minutes of which, a moderately tired horse 

 will look quite a different animal, evidently enjoying the process, 

 and dropping his head to the hands of the groom with the most 

 perfect air of enjoyment. Where, however, there is im\y one 



