EXEECISE. 79 



regularly used. They lose in power and firmness when not used. They 

 require constant use in order to give them the strength, which is needed 

 to enable them to sustain the violent usage, to which in the horse they 

 are so often subjected. 



The amount of use and strain to which they ought to be subjected, 

 must of course depend on the nature of the work for which the horse is 

 intended. But before we subject any particular horse to hard and severe 

 training, it is always necessary to consider whether his make and shape 

 are such as to fit him for that work. 



Harness work causes the least strain, next to it comes ordinary riding, 

 next hunting, whilst racing and steeple chasing occasion the greatest 

 strain. Many a horse, which will not stand the training necessary for 

 racing or steeple chasing, will stand for hunting. Many again, which 

 will not stand the strain of hunting, may answer very well for ordinaiy 

 riding ; whilst others, which are not sound enough for riding, may last 

 for years in harness. 



130. Ligaments. 



Ligaments are of similar structure to tendons. Some ligaments possess 

 a certain degree of elasticity. The same remarks, however, generally 

 apply to them as to tendons. 



Further and more detailed information in regard to the structure and 

 organisation of muscles, tendons, arid ligaments will be found in 

 Chapter 13. 



131. Lungs and other organs of respiration. 



The power of the lungs to sustain long and violent exertion is likewise 

 very much a matter of habit. The lungs, unless accustomed to it, cannot 

 sustain the violent work often required of them. 



If such work is required of a horse, some fast exercise must of course 

 be given ; but the reader will do well to remember that hard condition 

 of the muscles and tendons ought to be antecedent to fast work. When 

 the physical powers are fully developed, when the necessaiy condition of 

 body is attained, it will not require any great amount of galloping to put 

 the horse " in wind." It is, however, very needful that the owner should 

 take care that the animal, which he intends for fast work, possesses the 

 necessaiy formation and capacity of chest. 



132. Gradual work. 



Muscles, tendons, ligaments, and the respiratory organs may by patient, 

 constant, and increasing use be gradually brought to perform safely an 

 amount of work and to support a strain which, without such progressive 

 training, they would be wholly unable to stand. 



The power of doing work and of sustaining fatigue is, if we may use 

 the expression, cumulative. Provided that the horse be kept in good 

 condition, it increases from day to day and from year to year, until from 

 age the animal powers begin to fail. 



