366 THE HORSE 



In order to decide whether the muscles are properly 

 developed, stock should be taken of their volume where they 

 can most easily be seen, and this will be found to be in the 

 arms and second thighs, where they are bunched together. 

 If each muscle of the group stands well out, fully rounded 

 in appearance, it may be concluded that enough long work 

 has been done ; and if the muscles of the quarters feel as 

 hard as a board when lightly slapped with the palm of the 

 hand, and the neck likewise is very firm when grasped, the 

 muscular development is all that can be desired. But if the 

 arms and second thighs have a rather flat appearance, with 

 an undeveloped look, more long work is called for, though 

 it need not be at a rapid pace. It is long work which puts 

 on muscle, and sharp work which improves the wind. The 

 skin should be very glossy, and feel as soft as silk, whilst it 

 should be loose enough to be easily pinched up into a fold 

 on either the neck, or ribs, by the finger and thumb. If it 

 is tight and difficult to get hold of, the horse will never do 

 himself justice in the race, and it shows that the digestion 

 is not quite right, and that probably the animal is somewhat 

 constipated. An extra bran mash, with a tablespoonful of 

 sulphur in it, and a couple of the sulphate of magnesia 

 powders in the drinking-water for the next two days, will 

 probably improve matters, to be followed by a wineglassful 

 of linseed oil mixed in a feed of oats for several days, until 

 the skin becomes looser. It is a state of things which must 

 not be allowed to continue, or all hope of bringing the 

 animal out at the top of his form may be abandoned. In 

 obstinate cases linseed tea to drink instead of water will 

 almost certainly effect a cure before long. Flowers of 

 sulphur is not nearly so much in use as it deserves, and a 

 tablespoonful now and again in a bran-mash has an excellent 

 effect in clearing the blood, and consequently the wind. 



Frequently it may be noticed, after a horse has been a 

 considerable time in work, that the fundament is beginning 

 to sink inwards, and this is a sign of exhausted nature, a 

 consequence of the whole of the fat of the intestines having 

 been absorbed. It indicates more or less loss of form, and 

 the only real remedy is a temporary rest. A wineglassful of 



