140 PUTTING INTO CONDITION. 



horse being a bed-eater, kc. ; and in the latter 

 case something should always be given in the 

 middle of the night, or an hour before day- 

 break. The system of fasting from nine at night 

 till nine in the morning, to please the fancy of 

 the owner, is ruinous to a horse's inside. 



Never allow of stimulants or masallahs indis- 

 criminately ; and particularly avoid them when- 

 ever the least symptom of illness, or falling off 

 in condition appears, for they are destruction at 

 the commencement of many illnesses, although 

 most salutary in other stages ; therefore, give 

 them only when out in cold or rainy weather, or 

 during hard work ; on which occasions the pint 

 of Hodgson, sweetened with an ounce of ghoor, 

 adding half a drachm of ginger, finely grated, 

 and one drachm of anise-seed, whilst on the fire 

 warming, is the finest cordial of any. 



Never fail to have the feet pared once in every 

 twenty-five days, if they grow quickly, or thirty 

 days at most ; and the first day you observe the 

 least contracting of the heels, take off the shoes 

 and treat for " Contraction." 



Never picket your horse with two tent-pegs 

 six feet apart, unless he is a weaver, or you are 

 about to shoot him ; two close together are far 

 more secure, and he is less liable to hurt himself: 

 and if you must use heel-ropes, let them be very 



