TRAINING WEIGHT — PHYSIC. 167 



some idea as to how much flesh your horse can go 

 to training with, so as not to have to sweat off 

 a whole lot, to the detriment of his health, 

 and at the expense of his legs. This is diflicult 

 to tell, perhaps, with a new purchase, but a 

 strong-built, good constitutioned horse, will na- 

 turally throw up flesh quicker than a slight 

 carcased or irritable one ; and a young horse, 

 (if not quite a young colt,) up to seven or so, 

 will throw it up quicker than after that age; 

 but whatever description of horse you are about 

 to run, he is to be put well in condition be- 

 fore the training commences; and if between 

 the ages of five and eight, with a large carcase, 

 it is not desirable he should be so plump as 

 one that is rather young, or rather old, slight 



comparison with fresh nags, like so many stone paviers. No 

 man, of course, can be expected to acknowledge this until he 

 has sold his " finest going horse he ever saw." Being a hght 

 weight, I would always willingly give three hundred rupees 

 extra for a valuable horse, if he had never been mounted. 



A horse frequently pulls up lame from some very trifling 

 wrench or strain, or interfering knock. Halt on the very 

 spot for half an hour, and apply cold vinegar, (a bottle of 

 which should always be taken to the course,) then lead gently 

 home: two days after, you will often find him able to take 

 his canter again, if no subsequent swelling ensues. Further 

 advanced in training, over a hard course, tenderness comes 

 over the feet : poultice for two nights, and put a piece of narrow 

 wax cloth, trebled, between the shoe and the crust: it will 

 remain firm if the crust is rasped level for the shoe. 



