214 SKIN, HAIR, AND COLOUR. 



SKIN, HAIR, AND COLOUR. 



Skin — Colour — Colour in relation to Heat and Cold -Hair — Han- on tJie 



Legs of Cart-horses — Maikmgs. 



Skin^ — The chief functions of the horse's skin, as far as 

 we are at present concerned, are: (i) to regulate the tem- 

 perature of the body ; (2) to aid in removing waste matters 

 from the blood ; and (3) to protect the body. As the first 

 and second duties are intimately connected with each other, 

 we may consider them conjointly. 



The internal temperature being maintained by the 

 changes which take place in the tissues ; exercise, by 

 promoting these changes, increases the production of heat 

 But as it also determines blood to the surface of the body, 

 and thereby stimulates the sweat glands ; the surplus heat is 

 removed by an increased amount of evaporation from the 

 skin, which performs this work, and also that of radiating 

 heat, best when it is thm. Although the subject of health is 

 outside the scope of this book, I may remark, in passing, that 

 a soft and pliable condition of the skin is due to the fact of 

 the oil glands, which are imbedded in it, being In good orden 

 Granting the employment of clothing when necessary, we 

 may assume that the skin of hard-worked horses, especially 

 those which are engaged at fast paces, should, within 

 reasonable limits, be as thin as possible, consistent with its 

 being able to stand the friction and pressure of harness or 

 saddle-gear. 



