188 TRAINING. 



pable mismanagement as this on a horse that 

 was intended to run to win ; and the legs must 

 be of good timber indeed not to thicken under 

 it. Horses, whose legs have small back sinews, 

 or which are tied in, or are crooked, will, not- 

 withstanding every care bestowed on them, often 

 show an evident inclination, after a good sweat, 

 to counteract Nature's errors in some degree, 

 by throwing out a little more substance about 

 the hocks and ankles : heavenly creatures like 

 these were never intended for such wicked 

 work as this. All heavy sweating is dangerous 

 to slight legs ; still, sweating must be had re- 

 course to, if the horse is determined to get fat, 

 when at the same time he is not overfed: it 

 is an evil, but not so great as having to phy- 

 sic again. The use of sweating is to take off 

 the carcase, or neck, any little extra flesh, not 

 deemed necessary, and which the exercise fails 

 to do ; and if done at the proper time, and not 

 overdone, the benefit is often very great ; for, 

 two of the grand desiderata are, to strengthen 

 the legs and diminish the weight of the body : 

 the continual regular exercise accomplishes the 

 first, and this will effect the last. A gentle 

 weekly sweat, towards the conclusion of train- 

 ing, is, therefore, necessary for every horse 

 carrying too much flesh ; it finishes him off, and 



