In the morning the first thing the groom does on entering the stable, which must not be later than six o'clock, if the weather be warm and fine will be to open the door and admit some fresh air; he will then give each horse a little water and a piece of hay; having eaten which, he will put on the hood and watering-bridle, and take him out for exercise. While out, the helpers will separate the dry clean straw from the damp and soiled, removing the latter to the manure heap. Thoroughly sweep and cleanse the floor of each stall and box, allowing the straw to remain turned up until the return of the horses, when it may be partly littered down again. Each horse will then have a feed of corn, and having eaten it, be well dressed and his stall or box set fair. When one groom only is kept or where the horses do a fair amount of work during the day, early exercise is impossible and unnecessary.

In dressing the horse the first thing the groom does is to turn him round in his stall, fold the rug back from his neck and shoulders, then well and carefully brush his head, neck, and shoulders with the body-brush, cleaning it with the currycomb as often as required. He is then turned back in the stall, the clothing removed, and his body, hind-quarters, and legs undergo the same careful and thorough brushing, care being taken to keep the brush clean with frequent use of the currycomb. He is next wiped all over with a damp whisp made of haybands, which entirely removes any remaining dust, and after being well wiped over with a linen rubber or wash-leather, his clothes are put on and secured by the roller. His eyes, nose, and anus are next sponged clean, his mane and tail carefully combed or brushed, first with a dry and then with a clamp brush; the feet are carefully picked out and washed, the legs well brushed, and if dirty or stained, well washed, and either rubbed dry or dried in flannel bandages.

The stall is then set fair and the horse ready for use.

With grey or light-coloured horses, or that have white legs, the better plan will be to wash all stains off the quarters, etc., and to wash the legs with warm waiter and soap, rubbing the first dry and well bandaging the latter before proceeding to dress the horse, as by the time that operation is over the legs will be dry and the horse warm and comfortable.

In the spring and autumn, when the horse is shedding his coat and the hair is broken and thin, the body-brush must be laid aside, the whisp and rubber being then quite sufficient for the necessary dressing.

Before having the harness put on to go out the horse must again be wiped over, his mane and tail brushed, and his hoofs rubbed round with the oil-brush - some people object to the use of the oil-brush to the feet, and only have them done round with a wet brush.

On returning to the stable after work, if he be clean and dry, his feet should be well picked out and washed, and he should again be well dressed and set fair. But if he returns hot and tired and wet and dirty, the best and quickest plan is to wash him all over with tepid water, scraping him immediately as dry as possible, clothing him up, and bandaging his legs above his knees and hocks with flannel bandages. If the weather be warm, he may be washed in the open air, and a light suit of clothes put on, to be replaced by fresh as soon as he is dry; but in winter, and if it be cold, he must be washed in the stable, and a suit of warm clothing put on until he is dry, when it must be changed. By this means the horse will be got fresh and comfortable in a much shorter time and with less fatigue to himself than if the dirt and sweat were removed in any other way and he was rubbed dry.

At seven o'clock, the horses that have not been out or done but little work may again have their clothing removed and be wiped over, which must not be done when the horse is tired with work and has been once made fresh. They may then be fed, their heads let down, their feet stopped, and be shut up for the night.