This, and indeed, every other person in the stable department, must
rise about five in the summer, and six in the winter.
When the Groom has two or more horses under his care, with a chaise, or
other vehicle or vehicles, he is generally allowed a boy to assist him
in the stable.
We shall here insert the _general care and management of horses_,
because in every stable establishment, however _small_, or however
_large_, a Groom is to be found; and he ought to be fully competent
to this branch of stable experience. In order to avoid repetition, we
shall refer every other servant in this department, to this description
of the usual care and management of horses.
The first thing, on entering the stable, is to give to each horse about
a gallon of clean water in a clean bucket; then to shake up the best
litter, under the manger, sweep out each stall, and clean out the whole
stable. Every Coachman and Groom feeds his own horses;[24] and during
the time of their feeding, he proceeds to _dress_ them: thus each horse
is first curried all over, with the curry-comb, to loosen the dirt and
dust on its skin; then brushed with a whalebone brush, to take the
dust off; next whisped with straw, to smooth and cleanse its coat; and
again brushed with the brush and curry-comb, to take off what dust may
remain; after which the horse is whisped again with a damp lock of hay,
and finally, rubbed down with a woollen rubber, or a clean cloth. The
horse is then turned round in the stall, and his head is next brushed
well and whisped clean and smooth, with a damp lock of hay. After
this, his ears are drawn through the hands, for several minutes, till
made warm, and then the insides of the ears are wiped out with a damp
sponge, to remove such dust and filth as may have accumulated there.
The sponge after being washed clean, is then applied to the eyes, to
cleanse them from dust, and any exudation that may have arisen in them.
The nostrils are also sponged clean, and the whole head is afterwards
finished by rubbing it with a cloth, in the same manner as the body
had previously been cleaned. The horse is then turned round into
its proper situation, the head stall put on, and the dirt and filth
that may have accumulated under its tail, are then washed away with a
sponge. The mane and tail are next cleaned and laid with a mane comb
and water brush, used alternately with both hands; the head and body
are again wiped over, and the body clothes are put on and fastened with
a surcingle.
The Groom next examines the horse’s heels, picks out the dirt from the
feet, and washes its heels, with a water brush and plenty of water.
If any horse has bad feet, they are then to be dressed and stuffed.
Lastly, a due portion of hay,[25] (about three or four pounds) is
shaken into the rack, and then the horse is considered as completely
dressed.
This is a summary of the whole process of cleaning and dressing horses
of every description.
Horses thus attended to, and regularly managed, under the humane
superintendance of a diligent and conscientious Groom or Coachman, will
have healthy and beautiful appearance, and in a great measure escape
from many diseases to which they would otherwise be liable.
When the master rides out before breakfast, the Groom rises so much
the earlier, so as to be able to get the horses for himself and master
ready, and at the time appointed. In this case, he gives the horses
not more than two quarts of water each, and about half their usual
feed of corn. On their return from the morning ride, the Groom sponges
the eyes and nostrils of the horses, and under their tails; picks out
their feet, washes their feet and heels, and then otherwise cleans and
dresses them in the usual way, as already described. When thus far
dressed, it is necessary to hand-rub their legs, downwards, for about
ten minutes, to prevent wind-galls, and to strengthen the back sinews.
When horses have been ridden hard, or have been a long journey,
bandages must be wrapped round their legs, (from the knee to the
fetlock joint) to prevent their swelling.
If their feet are heated, they must be stopped with the following
mixture, called stopping: viz.
Mix equal quantities of cow-dung, clay, tar, and kitchen grease with
urine, to the consistency of a stiff paste. This is usually kept in a
small tub, or box, with a handle, to be ready when wanted.
The horses are then watered, fed, and littered down.
All horses when they come in, if they have sweated, or are very hot,
must have their feet and legs first washed, and then be walked about
ten or fifteen minutes, in the open air, till they are properly cool
and dry; when they are to be well rubbed, and afterwards cleaned in the
usual way. They should be encouraged to stale as soon as may be, by
shaking a little straw under them, and whistling to them.
The saddles and bridles, with the bits and stirrups, are to be wiped
when they are taken off, and are so left till the first opportunity,
when they are to be thoroughly cleaned and put away.
If a gig, chaise, or other carriage has been used in the morning, it
will require to be cleaned and got ready as soon as possible.
Such horses as are at home at twelve o’clock, are, at that hour, to be
watered and fed again, and just wiped over, but not thoroughly cleaned,
as in the morning; their manes and tails are, however, to be combed and
properly _laid_ with the mane-comb and water brush.
When the Groom’s horses and carriages come in, in the evening, he
attends to his horses first, washes their feet and legs and rubs them
quite dry, before he cleans them. He afterwards cleans his gig, or
whatever it may be by day-light, if there be time, or at any rate, he
has to get his harness cleaned. About eight o’clock the stable man
repairs to the stable, for the last time, cleans it out, waters, feeds,
and rubs down the horses, litters them up, bandages their legs, stops
their feet, (if necessary) and racks them up for the night.
Wages 22_l._ to 25_l._ with, generally, two livery suits, and two
stable dresses a year.