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.