186 



stone, strongly fixed between the sole and shoe of" the Horse; and it is a 

 useful qualiOcation in a groom, to be able to drive properly a nail on 

 an uriirent occasion. 



Arrived at the inn, the Horse, if too warm to be immediately stabled, 

 or the weather being warm and dry, he may be led abroad, stripped of 

 his saddle, but rather in the shade than in the blazing sun, which last 

 hostlers ever prefer, as it dries most expeditiously, their only object of 

 consideration. A new exposure to the heat of the sun, must be a poor 

 refreshment to an animal, perhaps already faint and exhausted. In cold 

 and wet weather, he should be instantly led to the stable, and so placed 

 as not to be exposed to acurrent of cold air. He should be littered up 

 to the hocks, with fresh dry straw. The saddle must not be suddenly 

 taken from his back, if hot, but the girths loosened, and a dry cloth 

 thrown over his loins. A light mouthful or two of sweet well-shaken 

 hay being put before the Horse, his face, ear-roots, throat, and neck, 

 should fh'st be gently rubbed, and afterwards his feet and legs washed 

 to the knees and hocks. If he have another stage to proceed, he will 

 be ready to feed in half an hour, or less ; but some Horses, however 

 they may have been managed, cannot be made dry on their journey, 

 ever breaking into perspiration in the stable, even if they enter it cool. 



The attentions due to the immense labours of the Horse, are too im- 

 portant, whether in the view of humanity or interest, to be trusted to the 

 honesty or care of any stranger, and he who is niggard of them, deserves 

 not to be well and safely carried. The cleanness of the manger, and of 

 the corn, together with its quantity and qualit}'^, ought to be ascertained 

 by the master or his groom, the punctuality of whom ought also to be 

 frequently scrutinized. Previouslj'^ to commencing a fresh stage, the 

 Horse's back ought to be examined, in order to guard against the ill ef- 

 fects of chale or warble, and the state of his legs in the cutting places, 

 and of his shoes. The saddle-pads being wet with sweat, should at first 

 be placed where they may dry ; and in many cases, a clean and dry 

 saddle-cloth proves very comibrtable and refreshing to a Horse. 



To conclude this branch of the subject, after a long and hard day's 

 journey, and when it must be too apparent, by the Horse frequently 

 lifting up and shifting his feet as he stands in his stall, that his feet and. 



legs 



