Now this operation is most delightful to a horse; it is to him what
taking a bath is to us; and properly done it makes him feel fresh and
vigorous and quite happy to do his master's work.

If it is not well done he feels restless and dirty, and the pores of his
skin become clogged, and the good horse gets sick.

Currying a horse is quite hard work, and lazy grooms do not like to do
it, and so they have invented a means of shirking the brushing which is
very unkind to the horse.

Every owner wishes to see his animals with glossy, shining coats, and so
bad grooms, to save the trouble of currying and brushing, will rub the
horse over with a cloth, dipped in kerosene. The coat will shine
beautifully, but the poor horse is made most uncomfortable.

The currycomb and brush prevents this wicked practice, by making the
cleaning of the horse so easy that it is not worth the laziest man's
while to oil the horse instead of currying him.

As you will see by the illustration, the currycomb has a dandruff brush
attached to its outer edge. As the comb is withdrawn the brush passes
over the skin that has been curried, brushes it clean of dandruff, and
makes it smooth and glossy. After one _good_ currying with this device
the nag is ready for harness, his coat sleek, shiny, and, above all,
clean.

You young people who are the happy owners of horses, must always make
sure that the gloss on your favorite's coat is the result of health and
cleanliness, and not kerosene.