308 THE HORSE 



parched and left rough the turned-out horse may suflfer ahnost as sei'iously 

 in the feet as if he had been driven on the road. Flies also torment the horse 

 at "-rass, and cause him to gallop about, and in some instances neutralize all 

 tlie benefit by day of the rest and moist dews at night, and where more 

 than one horse is turned out they may be seen under a tree on a sultry 

 day, languidly swishing their tails, or the short dock which in most 

 hunters does duty for a tail, nibbling at one another's withers out of 

 sheer ennui, and often doing considerable damage to the mane and adjacent 

 skin. 



All or most of these evils are avoided by soiling in a loose box, but 

 those who choose this method should make periodical inspections of the feet 

 and see that the bedding has not become heated by femnentation, as is too 

 often the case, since the horse thrown out of condition and resting will 

 receive but veiy little attention except from the most assiduous of stud- 

 grooms. 



As there are equally good men in favour of turning out to grass under 

 proper conditions and of not turning out but " soiling," directions for both 

 are here given. 



Soiling is conducted as follows : — At the conclusion of the hunting 

 season the horse is gradually cooled down, either by removing his clothing 

 in the stable, and letting him first stand there naked for two or three 

 weeks, or by putting him with it on into a moderately warm loose box, and 

 after he has been there a day or two taking it away by degrees. At the 

 same time he is deprived of his corn, and fed upon hay only ; but this 

 change also must not be too sudden, demanding a month for its complete 

 carrying out, which will bring the time on to the beginning or middle 

 of the month of May. A large airy loose box should then be provided, 

 the floor being covered with six inches of tan, sand, moss, litter, or other 

 suitable bedding ; preference being given to such material as is least liable 

 to fermentation, and the consequent development of heat so detrimental 

 to the feet (see Bedding), and the door being so arranged that in warm 

 weather it may be left open, a chain being drawn across from post to post. 

 Here the horse is left for a few days till he is thoroughly accustomed to 

 his new berth, and his coat is full of dust and scurf, when he may have a 

 dose of physic, and while under its effects, his legs may be blistered, or 

 dressed with iodine ointment, or some of the many applications which are 

 used for the purpose of producing absorption of the morbid deposits which 

 have been thrown out during the winter. After the physic is set, green 

 food of some kind may be commenced, consisting of Italian rye-grass, 

 young vetches, or lucerne, or, if these cannot be obtained, of ordinary 

 meadow grass. At first an equal quantity of hay must be allowed for old 

 hunters, or the change from dry food to green will produce too great an 

 effect on the bowels. Young and hearty horses will, however, be none the 

 worse for this ; and, indeed, when they are turned out, all have to bear the 

 change in its fullest extent. 



Objection is sometimes made to vetches on account of their laxative 

 action on the bowels when young. Much of this is due to their being 

 carted home wet and becoming heated in a very short time ; the experienced 

 liorseman preferring to shake them out in the sun and giving them to his 

 charges in a condition slightly withered, and not looking so appetizing, 



