264 STABLE ECONOMY. 



in each feed. The only danger of giving too much or too 

 often, is that of disgusting the horse and destroying his ap- 

 petite, for two or three meals. Clover hay may be given to 

 tl ese horses, and in what quantity they like. They should 

 be fei often, yet never till they are hungry ; others of robust 

 constitution, disposed to eat too much, that is, so much as to 

 produce fatness, in spite of all the work the legs will suffer, 

 must be fed somewhat sparingly. For these horses beans are 

 too strong, and clover too tempting. It is true, the more they 

 eat, the more work they will endure ; and the more work the} 

 get in training or racing, the more vigor they display on the 

 day of action. But there are limits to this. The legs fail ; 

 they become tumid, tender, and the fetlocks knuckle ; the 

 horse gets stiff, and his stride shortens. The work which a 

 greedy feeder may require to keep him free from superfluous 

 flesh, confers speed, and especially stoutness, but, carried 

 beyond a certain point, it ruins the legs. Hence it is neces- 

 sary to limit the allowance of food in proportion to the delicacy 

 of the limbs. If they threaten to fail, the work must be di- 

 minished, and, as the work decreases, so must the food ; 

 otherwise, stable-sweating or purging must be employed to 

 keep the horse spare. 



Grass is sometimes given to racers. They work chiefly in 

 summer, but also in spring and in autumn. Between racing- 

 days they occasionally require to be soiled. If work be con- 

 cluded before grass is quite out of season, some is given, while 

 it lasts, to horses that are laid up for the winter. 



When racing is over, which is generally by the end of 

 September, the horses are put into winter-quarters. Some 

 may have had much work ; they are emaciated ; the legs are 

 swollen out of shape ; some are lame ; some have galled 

 backs ; all have *he feet much injured, the hoofs broken and 

 reduced by frequent removal of the shoes. Those that have 

 been much reduced and knocked about, are put into loose 

 boxes, where they remain for two or three months, receiving 

 grass, carrots, hay, and oats. The quantity of food should be 

 sufficient to put flesh on the horse, but not to produce fatness 

 If the legs or sheath swell, he must have physic, or an altera- 

 tive, exercise, and less grain, replaced by bran-mashes, more 

 particularly should there be a tendency to surfeit. When 

 bad weather or the state of the horse's legs requires that he stay 

 much in the house, he should have bran-mashes often, and the 

 loose box should be as large as possible, without being cold. 



The horse is to be dressed every day ; the loose-box clean 



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