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without straw, dates from those countries, ancient or modern, which 

 produce none ; that is to say, none for the purpose of the Horse's com- 

 fort, such ought not to be examples on the plentiful and luxuriant 

 soil of old Enland. Ought we also to follow the other example, and 

 give straw only for fodder, because other countries produce no hay? 



It was the ancient notion, that standing upon bare stones, would 

 render the Horse more hardy, from the cold, and his feet more tough 

 and durable. Let us attend to the objection of our earliest jockey 

 writer, the learned and logical Michael Baret, who wrote in the reign 

 of James I. He is opposing, -on this topic, his contemporary Morgan, 

 " And whereas he doth say, it will make the hoofs tough and durable, 

 he deceiueth himselfe, except hee will hold that the more a thing is 

 M'orn, it will be the more durable, for with continually standing and 

 mouing upon the stones, it will both weare and breake their hoofs, 

 so that they will rather be brittle than tough : and againe, what need a 

 perfect hoofe any repaying, if his assertion were admitted, for it is 

 naturally tough and durable of itself: But if not perfect, then the con- 

 tinual use of the stones will make it worse; for if it be flat, then it will 

 be in danger of hoofe binding, in regard the coffin will be so dry, that 

 it cannot spread so fast as the flesh doth grow, by reason of the moist- 

 nessof the frush; and if it be brittle, the stones will cause it to breake 

 the more. Therefore, for the remedying of all these dangers, I think 

 it best, that they have continually store of litter to stand and lye upon, 

 at their pleasure ; for no man can limit a better order than nature 

 itselfe would worke." Vineyard of Horsemanship. 



The Horses in most continental stables, I have been informed, make 

 a poor, rough and shabby figure, from the want of comfortable stand- 

 ing; and in this country, in our great towns, wherever we see hard- 

 worked, greased and surbated Horses standing upon the bare stones, 

 drooping, holding down the head, and changing the feet, they exhibit 

 spectacles of misery, more particularly in the cold season. The hot 

 and wearied foot requires, and well deserves, a soft resting place, and let 

 the economist, who is ambitious of judging correctly in this case, take 

 a forced march of fifty miles, over rough and stony roads, and at 

 night, rest his feet upon the solid planches. I have a conviction, that 



standing 



X 



