MODERN FARRIER. 233 



gallops, in order to practice him in the free use and 

 command of his limbs to the utmost extent of action. 

 Ey thus sweating, with his body and head and neck 

 uncovered, he will have the benefit of the contact of 

 the fresh air, the vapour arising from the skin will 

 fly off as fast as it is produced, and the vessels will 

 be strengthened and invigorated by the freshness of 

 the passing breeze. If any further reasoning were 

 necessary to shew the bad effects of immoderate 

 sweating in the body clothes, the following analogy 

 might very fairly supply it. It is a fact, which 

 most horsemen and drivers of horses must know, 

 that a horse when going ivith the wind, sweats 

 more than wlien he is going against it ; and this 

 simply from the circumstance of his being, in the 

 first case, constantly surrounded by the vapour 

 arising from his own body; whereas, in the latter 

 case, the wind meeting him, drives it away, and 

 with a quickness proportioned to tiie velocity with 

 which he is going. Hence a horse is always much 

 more fatigued and exhausted when he goes with 

 the wind than when he goes against it.' 



It would certainly be highly improper to start a 

 horse with a full belly ; still it is also improper to 

 keep him for several hours on the muzzle before he 

 starts. Long fasting naturally produces faintness. 

 A moderate meal might be given with advantage 

 about four hours before starting. 



It is, as before noticed, very improper to water a 

 horse on the training ground, and immediately after 

 to set off on a canter or hand-gallop. Such treat-" 

 ment is apt to produce spasms, with all their fatal 

 consequences. Should a mare, while training, shew 

 a desire for the horse, it will be necessary to give 

 bran mashes and occasionally some Epsom salts ; 

 though under such circumstances, it would be bet- 

 ter, if convenient for the owner, to decline running. 



The violent labour of the race-horse certainly re- 

 quires some preparation, in order to diviest the body 



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