22 



THE MODERN SYSTExM 



hackney stable, and not in the racing and 

 hunting stable, though there is very little 

 difference in treating the hunter and the hack, 

 except it be in a greater additiou of clothing 

 and more dressing, the days he may be laying 

 at rest. 



The cloth being properly on without wrin- 

 kles, but perfectly smooth, and that especially 

 under the roller, loosen the Horse's head, take 

 off his stall-collar, and turn him round in the 

 stall, to give his head and ears a complete 

 rubbing and brushing, which was not so 

 practicable with the stall-collar on. You now 

 brush his head over in every part, particu- 

 larly at the root of the ears, and under the 

 throat; then after, with your dusting cloth, 

 rub and wipe him well ; then pull his ears 

 through your hands, observing they are clean 

 and soft, and moderately cool ; then comb out 

 his mane and foretop, then with a sponge or 

 water-brush, wet the top or roots of the mane, 

 and pass a small cloth for that purpose over 

 it : this cloth being passed from the near side 

 at the top of the mane, and pulled over to the 

 off side, will make the mane lay smooth. 



You next put on his stall collar, and comb 

 out his tail, wipe away any dirt or filth that 

 may be remaining under the tail with a wet 

 vsponge, and after with your cloth. The 

 Horse's feet are next to be examined, and the 

 dung and litter picked clean out, and if 

 necessary must be washed. And, lastly, the 

 legs are to be rubbed with a clean loose whisp 

 of straw in each hand ; for which purpose, 

 you should go down on both knees, pass the 

 whisp down the legs and tendons, then finish 

 with passing your hands down in like manner, 

 to feel that they are smooth, and no particles 

 of the straw or thistles, which might be 

 Among it, adhei-e or stick in the hair. These 



rubbings will increase the circulation, and, 

 consequently, will promote the absorption of 

 any fluid that may be detained in those parts, 

 which too frequently occasion swelled legs ; 

 and, if neglected, the heels may crack, and 

 produce grease, which, with a little extra 

 trouble, may at all times be prevented. 



The morning's business of the stable being 

 thus completed, the Horse will require nothing 

 until noon. 



Before I proceed further, I shall show the 

 reasons for feeding the hackney ; for I would 

 not have it understood, that this is the manner 

 to feed for extraordinary cases, or hunters. 

 A hackney should be always ready to perform 

 ordinary work, with ease to himself, and com- 

 fort to his rider. 



I account it moderate exercise for a good 

 hackney, to go thirty or forty miles an end, 

 without drawing bit, at the rate of from eight 

 to ten miles an hour ; this I call ordinary work : 

 but to gallop twenty miles, or trot sixteen in 

 an hour, I call extraordinary work, which re- 

 quires a Horse to go through a regular mode 

 of training. 



But to return. At noon, give him the like 

 quantity of hay as in the morning, and his 

 feed of corn : set the stable fair, that is, put 

 his litter to rights and remove the dung. 

 This is all that is necessary till watering time, 

 which is about four o'clock, at which time, 

 you strip the horse, and brush him well over. 



I have had lads that could hardly be per- 

 suaded of the necessity of thi?, alleging that 

 they had cleaned them perfectly well in the 

 morning ; that the Horse had not been out ot 

 the stable, and that the clothing prevented 

 dust from settling on hem ; therefore, they 

 could not conceive the necessity of it ; and 

 maay others may be of the same opinion : but 



