184 



and ludicrous situation of travelling, inch bj^ inch, towards his Horse's 



head. 



It is far better to reflect in time, than to be afterwards convinced by 

 sad experience, both of the animal and yourself, that leggy, or long- 

 legged Horses, with narrow and weak loins, and such as scour, or part 

 with the excrement too frequently, are altogether incapable of long 

 continued exertions. The inal)ility will soon be manifest, from the 

 Horse refusing his food. Such may yet be usefid, safe, and pleasant, 

 to ride airings, orjournies of a few miles. There are others, not a 

 few, in this unfortunate predicament, without discovering any of its 

 usual indications, and the cause seems internal, and inscrutable. 



In expeditious traveUing, on our level turnpike roads, the stage ought 

 not to exceed two or three and twenty miles, but twenty is a fiiir stage, 

 and may be performed, by a good hack and a good rider, with much 

 comfort and no injury, in two hours. When the inns are at inconve- 

 nient distances, it is preferable to shorten, rather than lengthen, the 

 -staocs. Travelling at this rate, alternate trotting and cantering, ac- 

 cording to the inclination of the Horse, is the best method, and in 

 which he sustains the least fatigue. Thus iiity or sixty miles may be 

 run off by day light, with little fatigue and no injury, either to Horse or 

 man, par exemple, in the jjresent month, September. Start at seven in 

 the morning, ride twenty miles to brcaklabt at nine. Start again at 

 •eleven, and ride twenty more. Again, twenty miles between three and 

 five o'clock. In the depth of Avinter, starting at €ight in the morning, 

 and adhering to the above rules, the travell-er will not be upon the road 

 later than five oclock in the afternoon, and yet go over tifty miles of 

 grou.:d. The summer season presents rare opportunities to tliose, who 

 like Bonaparte, possess tlie inestimable virtue of early rising, of per- 

 forming the chief of their journies in the cool of the morning and even- 

 ing. 1 have recommended riding a stage before breakfast, whieh many 

 will decline, but I can vouch tor the practice, as most excellent and 

 remedial, both for the Horse and horseman, who are luxuriously fed. 

 It is sufTicient'.y obvious, that the n.ethod «)f quick-journey riding, will 

 not suit all men or all Horses. Many preftT jogging on at the rate o-f 

 five or six miles per hour, the long day through. Much benefit may 



they 



