247 



SECTION XXI. 



TUUF CONTINUED — STABLE AND SCHOOL ECONOMISTS — REAL CHARACTER 



OF ESCAPE, AS A RACER POISONING THE RACE-HORSE — INSTANCE OF 



MODERN CRUELTY ON THE COURSE — ^-THE DISGUSTING BARBARITIES OF 

 FORMER TIMES, AND SUPERIORITY OF MODERN HUMANITY — IMPORT- 

 ANCE OF THE EXAMPLE OF PROPRIETORS, AND OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE 

 OF THE HORSE PURGING SYSTEM. 



NOTHING can be more preposterous, than the idea of reducing 

 Horses and fitting them for the course, by abridging them of food, that na- 

 tural support of their bodily powers, on which all their ability depends. 

 Some modification of this kind, is probably within the contemplation of 

 those who talk of training Race-horses without purging them; but the 

 most rational experimental practice has fully sanctioned theruse of purges, 

 which beside, being judiciously prescribed, were never known to do the 

 smallest inj ury to a Horse. The whole injury subsists in the theory and 

 the practice of two parties, much upon a par for their ignorance, the one 

 of what they are writing or saying, the other, of what they are doing. 

 To feed sparingly, and work in proportion, is a plan, from which, indeed, 

 purging might be well excluded, as I believe would also be winning. 

 Here one's recollection introduces the shabby and scalt-miserable plans 

 of economy in feeding Horses, such great favourites with some of our 

 economists. I blush for the temporary share which I had in them. 

 He who grudges to feed his Horse amply and well, deserves not to 

 ride well ; and what horseman who possesses the means, would deny 

 himself the noble convenience and luxury of bestriding a Horse in 

 full vigour, and in all the glory of high and sleek condition ? 



There is certainly much truth and solidity in Chifney's remarks on 

 the variations of performance and condition in the Running-horse, 

 although he has carried his ideas to an extravagant and imaginary 



pitch 



