14 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



Mr. Taplin, a surgeon, who preferred the 

 Veterinary surgery to tlie human, also sent 

 into the world two octavo volumes on the dis- 

 eases of the Horse, and wliicli. about the year 

 1800, liad a great run amongst horse-masters 

 in general, but the style in which he writes is 

 any thing but pleasing ; still he proves himself 

 a good judge of the Horse, 



STABLE MANAGEMENT. 



Previous to the treatment of diseases, it 

 cannot be inapplicable to point out such things 

 as are strictly necessary, and absolutely con- 

 ducive to the preservation of the health of 

 the Horse, though perhaps not at all times 

 attended to ; consequently, no subject is more 

 entitled to our attention. I have further consi- 

 dered, that if gentlemen are not even under 

 the necessity of looking after their own Horses, 

 many would like to have every information of 

 the stable department, thereby, being enabled 

 to form some judgment of the competency of 

 their grooms ; for it is not the good fortune of 

 every gentleman to have a profes.sed groom, 

 and many undertake an employment of this 

 kind, that scarcely know how to do any thing 

 about a stable ♦ and while gentlemen do not 

 inform themselves of the necessary duties 

 and business of the stable, tliey are likely to 

 be greatly impo.sed on, or injured, through the 

 ignorance, indolence, or artfulness of pretended 

 grooms : for, little as may be thought of the 

 merits of looking after a Horse, 1 have remarked, 

 that not more than one in ten, upon the aver- 

 age, of stable-men employed in livery-stables 

 and dealers' yards, know how to simply clean 

 or dress a Horse, though this is the first or 

 principal thing required of them, and nearly 

 ai! they have to do, after they have followed 

 the employ for years, and appeared to be in- 



dustrious, pains-taking men, who did not spare 

 their labours ; so that there is evidently more 

 art attached to this profession, than at first 



occurs to oiw* imagmation. 



There are certain natural qualifications and 

 properties, which should be preferred and 

 sought after, if they can possibly be found in 

 the person that has the care and management 

 of valuable Horses; he should be sober, mild, 

 and patient, in his temper, so that he is not 

 easily provoked ; for I have seen material in- 

 jury done by passionate persons incautiously 

 striking Horses in a most violent and malicious 

 manner, with vviiatever might be in their way ; 

 sometimes the corners of the curry-comb, 

 the broom-stick, twitch-staft", stable-fork ; and 

 I once knew a groom in his passion, on the oc- 

 casion of stopping the Horses feet, for which 

 he had a small trowel, actually drove it into 

 the Horse's side between two of his ribs. The 

 person who looks after Horses should be an 

 industrious one, and not sparing of his labour 

 at any hour or season ; for Horses require 

 much labour to make them fresh and comfort- 

 able ; and if a groorn is sparing of his labour 

 the Horse will soon shew it, as there is very 

 little harder work done than grooming a Horse 

 properly ; and though an indolent groom n'ay 

 escape censure or complaints of persons not 

 very particular or discerning, yet those who 

 are judges cannot be imposed on, tlie appear 

 ance and condition will discover itself, and 

 cannot escape their notice : for when a person 

 knows that every thing is allowed to keep his 

 Horses in proper condition, and also knmo^ 

 when his Horses are in that condition they 

 onght to be, lie will never be satisfied to see 

 them otherwise. 



Tliere is no good groom that has not a pride 

 in his Horses, to see thtm and every thing in 



