14 HORSES AND ROADS. 



The Earl of Pembroke held very similar senti- 

 ments. Mayhew, one of our most modern authorities, 

 says : ' Of all persons living, grooms generally are 

 the worst informed : here is the curse of horses. No 

 other servant possesses such power, and no domestic 

 more abuses his position. It is impossible to amend 

 the regulation of any modern stable without remov- 

 ing some of this calling, or overthrowing some of 

 the abuses, with a perpetuation of which the stable 

 servant is directly involved.' But, of the master, 

 he says : * The most humane of modern proprietors 

 is an ignorant tyrant to his graceful bondservant ; ' 

 to this he might truthfully have added that the 

 most intelligent amongst masters was but a narrow- 

 minded bigot. Tel ma'Ure tel valet. Betwixt these 

 two classes stands the helpless horse! not to 

 mention their natural chosen ally, the farrier. 



It is not meant to imply that farmers are guilty 

 of overloading or overworking their horses, in the 

 general acceptation of these terms ; but that they 

 neglect taking precautions which would enable the 

 horse to do at least the same amount of work, with 

 comfort to himself, greater freedom from disease, 

 prolongation of life, and economy all round for his 

 owner, besides removing from the latter very fre- 

 quent anxieties resulting from mismanagement of 

 the animal. The advice or opinion of servants should, 

 therefore, not be asked for. They will immediately 

 object to the brake and all other economical im- 

 provements: it is upon principle that they object 

 to everything new. The way to begin all economies, 



