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for exercise, which is not the case with private stables: And from these 

 last, we constantly see Horses sent out to exercise upon the stones, 

 better certainly than to keep them six days, perhaps, out of seven, close 

 confined in the dense and suffocating air of the stable. But exercise 

 upon such ground, should be invariably and rigidly confined to the 

 walk; instead of which we often see the heavy-sided and stupid fellows 

 of ignorant or careless masters, rattling their Horses, full trot, over the 

 hard pavement, by way of exercise! — and what is still more unfeeling 

 and absurd, even aged hacknies with their sore and wind-galled legs and 

 battered feet. All that even does not come up to the beastly insanity, 

 of treating in such a way, the miserable, tortured and worn down post- 

 hack or machiner, whose piteous wincing discovers at every step, the 

 excruciating pain he endures, from the rude shocks of such exercise. 

 Boys are generally employed to harrass these victims up and down, 

 who, thoughtless and hardened as their seniors, employ abuse and blows, 

 in proportion to pain and inability. No one can be more convinced 

 than myself, of the necessity of exercise, for palsied objects like these, 

 but surely it ought to be of the gentle and compassionate kind; if in- 

 tended to produce benefit, it should never exceed the walk, and even 

 that, as much as possible, at the animal's ease; the ground where there 

 is a choice, should be the softe-t, and the Horse should invariably be 

 led, since the intent is, or ought to be, to recruit not to load the already 

 fatigued and exhausted powers. How oflen are we disgusted at the 

 sight, of a heavy blacksmith mounted upon the back of a lame Horse, 

 and trotting him homewards? Wherever convenience will admit, all 

 lame or hurt Horses should exercise themselves, their loins, breast and 

 heart well clothed, upon dry soft and sheltered ground, or close within 



doors. 



For common road work, walking exercise is very sufficient, and if 

 it be judiciously and perseveringly used by the groom, the Horse being 

 urged to his speediest walk, without shifting or mixing it with his trot, 

 he may be so brought into good condition and aptitude for considerable 

 exertions, But for the severer services of racing, whether galloping or 

 trotting, or of hunting, a regular training is required, to accustom 

 the Horse by a gradual increase of his s}»eed in exercise, afterwards to be 



able 



