ot. "H. A." vi. 18; Plin. viii.
42; Aelian, "H. A." ii. 10, xi. 18, xii. 16, to which Dr. Morgan
aptly adds Soph. "Fr." 587 (Tyro), a beautiful passage, {komes de
penthos lagkhano polou diken, k.t.l.} (cf. Plut. "Mor." 754 A).

Washing of the legs we are inclined to dispense with--no good is done
but rather harm to the hoofs by this daily washing. So, too, excessive
cleanliness of the belly is to be discouraged; the operation itself is
most annoying to the horse; and the cleaner these parts are made, the
thicker the swarm of troublesome things which collect beneath the belly.
Besides which, however elaborately you clean these parts, the horse is
no sooner led out than presently he will be just as dirty as if he had
not been cleaned. Omit these ablutions then, we say; and similarly for
the legs, rubbing and currying by hand is quite sufficient.

VI

We will now explain how the operation of grooming may be performed with
least danger to oneself and best advantage to the horse. If the groom
attempts to clean the horse with his face turned the same way as the
horse, he runs the risk of getting a knock in the face from the animal's
knee or hoof. When cleaning him he should turn his face in the opposite
direction to the horse, and planting himself well out of the way of his
leg, at an angle to his shoulder-blade, proceed to rub him down. He
will then escape all mischief, and he will be able to clean the frog by
folding back the hoof. Let him clean the hind-legs in the same way.

The man who has to do with the horse should know, with regard to this
and all other necessary operations, that he ought to approach as little
as possible from the head or the tail to perform them; for if the horse
attempt to show vice he is master of the man in front and rear. But by
approaching from the side he will get the greatest hold over the horse
with the least risk of injury to himself.

When the horse has to be led, we do not approve of leading him from in
front, for the simple reason that the person so leading him robs himself
of his power of self-protection, whilst he leaves the horse freedom to
do what he likes. On the other hand, we take a like exception to the
plan of training the horse to go forward on a long rein (1) and lead
the way, and for this reason: it gives the horse the opportunity of
mischief, in whichever direction he likes, on either flank, and the
power also to turn right about and face his driver. How c