177 



bright and in order, by clean rubbing, and being always left dry, without 

 that quantity of oil, formerly so much in stable use. The pads of the 

 saddle being wetted by the sweat of the Horse, on a journey, should be 

 well dried in the sun, or by the fire, and not again put upon his back, in 

 a damp and hardened state. Mcst scrupulous care should also be taken, 

 todryand air the body-clothes, whether they may have been soaked with 

 sweat or rain, or damps; and not, as is too often done, gird them around 

 the body of the Horse, sick or well, in the same state they may chance 

 to be picked up, whether wet or dr3\ There is no doubt, but many 

 Horses, particularly those inline condition, are thus constantly injured. 

 Horse-clothes also, ought to be washed much oftener than they gene- 

 rally are. There is a blackening composition, containing a small quan- 

 tit}'^ of oil, for the preservation of harness, which is much superior to the 

 oil formerly used by itself. 



Soiling in the stables has been spoken of, but there is something far- 

 ther required, to render the legs and feet of the Horse as lasting as pos- 

 sible, and to cure those injuries from labour, which it is mere deception 

 and folly to attempt effectually to remedy within doors. I mean sum- 

 mer or winter runs abroad. The first should be whilst the grass is 

 young, and before the fly season, which, in many places, will allow the 

 horse little rest by day, and if he be lame, harrass him about very inju- 

 riously. Well-shaded pastures are then necessary. 1 he Horse should 

 not be turned oti" without shoes, because if the ground be hard, he will, 

 in frolicking about, break his hoofs; nor with his ordinary shoes, but 

 with a narrow plate around the crust of the foot, resembling that of 

 the Race-horse. The salt-marshes are proper to fatten a Horse in reduced 

 condition, and to cure various complaints. 



The winter's run abroad is also most salubrious for the Horse, and the 



best mean of recovering the tone of relaxed and debilitated sinews, and 



of curing lamenesses in the legs and feet. But several very important 



considerations attach to this plan, tor want of a due attention to wh cb, 



it is so often unsuccessiul. Tlie Horses must be well kep% and well 



sheltvi^red throughout the winter; or insiead of benefit, they will receive 



very gi'eat injury. 



Keej)ing Horses at straw-yard, is too often but a civil term for starving 



•2. A them ; 



