167 



day, and if he be very greedy of drink, three times is preferable, stint- 

 ing him to a moderate allowance. Broken-winded horses should be no 

 otherwise stinted of water, than of the quantity to be taken at a time, 

 and one reason of their usual inordinate craving of drink is, that they 

 are generally denied it, whence they are so prone to excess, when left 

 at liberty. The old custom of exercising Horses immediately after they 

 have drank, ought not to be carried to excess, which must be both 

 painful and injurious. I prefer brisk walking in the case, or hard 

 wisping the body in the stable. 



Exercise is both the mean of preserving the body of the Horse in a 

 sound and healthy state, and of preparing it for laborious exertions, 

 which being suddenly enforced, must have a dangerous effect upon the 

 humours of an animal body unprepared, and that has been long at 

 rest. It is intended in this place, to speak chiefly of exercise and airing- 

 as conducive, or rather indispensable to health. Horses high fed, very 

 seldom worked, or exercised, and spending the far greater part of their 

 time in the narrow compass of a stall, their heads bound to the man- 

 ger, are much in the same predicament, and visited by somewhat 

 analogous disorders, with men leading sedentary lives and living in a 

 state of luxury. Gentlemen's Horses like these, should be taken out 

 if possible, twice a da}^ during the long days, whilst the weather is 

 fine over head, and once a day in the winter season, an hour each time. 

 Nor ought the lazy excuses of grooms to be admitted, of dirt under 

 feet, where they have ample time, and no tea-kettle duties to perform. 

 Influenzal, cold-catching weather, Avith piercing winds, however, form a- 

 most legitimate excuse for keeping a Horse within doors, when the 

 loose stall or stable, is an excellent substitute for out door exercise, 

 and setting the Horse to exercise himself upon the bit, between the 

 pillars. When taken out, rising ground and change of air are to be 

 preferred, and the pace should generally be moderate, and if confined 

 to the walk, will be fully sufficient. Indeed airings afford the best 

 opportunity of training a hackney to a fast walk, to excel in which pace 

 is generally esteemed a very pleasing and useful qualification. 



The livery stables of London, generally afford very convenient rides 



fov 



