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MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 
accelerates the circulation in the external vessels, which 
stimulates the animal and rouses all his energies. Indeed 
any one may perceive the salutary effects of grooming on 
the spirits of the horse after this operation, which should 
always be performed m the open air when the weather is 
favourable, which braces the skin and conduces to health. 
It however frequently happens that grooms in using the 
curry-comb give too much pressure, and thereby often 
irritate the cuticle and give pain instead of pleasure to the 
animal, especially to those which have thin skins. It 
ought therefore to be used with gentleness, and a longer 
time bestowed upon it. We also disapprove of a very hard 
brush, and especially one which has irregular hairs on the 
surface. A soft brush well applied will be equally effective, 
and produce less irritation to the horse. 
After violent exercise, or a long journey, the legs of 
horses should be well rubbed down both with the hand and 
brush. This will prevent swelling, and even allay it if it 
has actually taken place. 
CLOTHING. 
If stables are kept dry and all cross-draughts are avoided, 
then the use of horse-cloths will be unnecessary. Nature 
has given the animal a covering which perfectly fits it, to 
prevent the necessity of artificial clothing while under a 
comfortable roof. 
If a horse has been overheated, the true method to pre¬ 
vent his taking cold when put in the stable is to rub him 
well down with straw or hay until his skin is dry ; but if it 
should so happen that the groom cannot possibly spare time 
at that moment to attend to it, a cloth may be thrown 
across his loins, until he is fairly cooled down, when it 
should be immediately removed. 
