TO MAKE A HORSE HAVE A FINE COAT.
[From the Duke of Newcastle’s Book, fol. p. 123. 1677.]
“There are but these Four things; viz. Feeding Well, Clothing Warmly, Many Sweats, and Dressing Well.
“For Dressing, there are these Things: the Curry Comb, which fetches out Dust; the Dusting Cloth, that takes away the Loose Dust; the Hard Wisp, a little moistened, that takes out More Dust yet from him; and the Felt, a little moistened, that takes out More Dust from him afterwards; but the Wett Hand, which should be last, takes not only More Dust, but a great deal of Loose Hair, which is much better than any of the Former:—after this, a Linen Cloth to wipe them over, and then a Woollen Cloth, and so cloathe him up.
“But the Best of all is the Knife of Heat, which is the Scraper; for when he is Hot, Scraping of him gets all the Sweat and Moysture out of him, so that he is Dry presently after, and all that Wett would turn to Dust, so there is so much Labour saved. Besides, it gets abundance of Hair from him, which the rest doth not; so that it is the most Excellent thing I know, both to Cool a Horse, and to give him a Good Coat.”
“If a fine Coat is wanted, it may be easily enough procured by proper Dressing.”—Dr. Blaine on Horses, 12mo. p. 142. 1803.
“Much rubbing (saith Old G. Markham) is comfortable, and cheereth every member.”—G. Markham’s Way to Wealth, 4to. p. 10. 1638.
“When a Horse is well Drest, his Sweat, when he is Warm, will come from him clear as Water; but the first time he be well Drest, it will take near Three hours to do it thoroughly—afterwards one hour a day may be sufficient.”
Mem. It is as necessary to rub their Backs as it is to fill their Bellies.