278 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE VICTORIA INSTITUTE. 
side in a like manner. This examination finished the next thing to 
do is to examine the horse to see if he is lame. Let him at once be 
trotted (don’t walk at first and then let him trot), and let the 
groom hold t he rein very slack. There is no occasion to trot fast, 
let him go quietly at about the pace of G miles an hour. Let him g» 
a tout fifty yards in a straight line from you and then return, 
careful note being taken to see if ho goes level and also how ho 
turns. Now back him to see if he is Vocked or not. The horse 
should now be tried for his wind either by galloping or by what 
is termed ‘•bulling.'’ Next have the fore shoes taken oil and 
cai etully examine the feet for corns, false quarter, seody thrush, 
pumice sole, £c\, &c. If these directions be carefully followed, 
and you miss seeing anything wrong, it will be not because you 
c 1,3 110 1 look for it, but because you failed to see or feel it, when 
you were looking or feeling for it. We will now imagine you 
ia\e satisfied yourself and got a horse ; let us now see how be 
should be kept. “ Grooming ’’—The objects aimed at by gl ooming 
aie to get rid of dust, dirt, and the superficial layers of the skin 
winch are constantly being cast oil'. The neglect of grooming 
produces skin disease, particularly the parasitic forms caused by 
pediculi and acari. The process of dressing horses requires great 
practice, patience, and experience, the brush should be used with 
one cross the hair, it should be drawn firmly through the hair to 
ensure its penetration to the skin. Few men are willing to 
pend Urn time and energy required in grooming a horse properly ; 
le Jrus i is generally applied in such a manner that the super- 
ficial and “ not” the deep seated dirt is removed. They trust 
note to the curry comb than the brush, and scrape the dirt out 
c r ‘rfbnwlnng it out. The legitimate use of the curry 
an in,! “ c ean l . le finish, and no other. Cleaning the legs is 
b™ 1 ■ P0r ? ant l 30 “to of grooming. In dry weather a simple 
weatC 8 ! S " Ufficie 1 llt - followed by hard rubbing : but in wet 
at wet ,m!\ e la \ e the element mud to contend with To brus ^ 
wash in i , • " ou d be to make matters worse; as a result of this 
which generally resorted to. Leg washing is a practice 
It is ’ not S H ne '' a y P ei ' fo ‘mcd, must be wholly condemned, 
are LCiablv IT" "' ashin & ,)ut ‘he fact that the legs 
that thi- ;• ^ ett damp, or oven wet. Experience shows 
matism wJ- pl '° lf,u sourc « of skin affection and rheu- 
differen'ce * « l^.ice that there is 
non about, especially in Great Britain. 
to justify it 1 " 1 it alt0 " ether ' “Vine that there 
WVnenl of the Feet. 
lamp, or even wet. Experience 
W. J ■ P , U sou rce of skin affection and r. 
ence 0 £ S un .g horses is a liranG™ tl..,, tlmw is much 
is notWng' to l justifTTt mn ¥ alto S eth er, saying . , 
Management of]k* pL hpj 1 " 11 that ,fc ls » l )lea for 1;ume ^; 
comprehended in a few w du ^““Sement of the feet can W 
dirt wasjied out. f r „, r Have them picked out after woiv, 
avoid stoppings as being _ ua ‘ 
tso be regularly ''shod i i‘tto> 
necessary if , d ,‘' ied J “void 
3, n not harmful, let the horse 
