32 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



For this purpose, you must be provided with 

 a rack-rein and muzzle, which must be alter- 

 nately used, when the one is taken off, the 

 other should be put on : for instance, you put 

 on the muzzle when you wish or expect the 

 Horse to lay down ; consequently, you put it 

 on at leaving- the stable at night ; this is to 

 prevent him eating- his litter, which some 

 Horses will do even when it is very foul : and 

 when fresh litter is given, many Horses will 

 prefer it to their hay: and though clean straw 

 is not injurious to Horses that are not required 

 to gallop much, yet hunters and racers are not 

 permitted to eat it, because it oppresses the 

 wind. The rack-rein is an iron chain, fixed 

 at the head of the stall, which passes through 

 a ring sewed in front of the nose-band of the 

 stall-collar ; it is fastened in the same manner 

 as a dog's chain to the ring in the collar, and, 

 when dressing the Horse, you can, after pass- 

 ing it through the collar, fasten him as short 

 as you think proper ; but, at other times, the 

 chain must be long enough to permit the 

 Horse to feed out of his rack, or out of his 

 manger, though not to let his head reach down 

 to his litter. 



The first thing to be done in U\e morning, 

 on coming to stable, is to take off the muzzle 

 and put on the rack-rein, then throw into the 

 manger about a quart, or a little better, of oats, 

 according to the constitution of the Horse, for 

 some are puny feeders, and must be treated in 

 such manner as will best invite, or occasion 

 them to eat ; while others, on the other hand, 

 will eat all you set before them, and must be 

 stinted to a proper allowance. The oats, for 

 these occasions, should be the best that can be 

 procured ; dry old oats, short and plump, 

 ciean from all kind of seeds, which are fre- 

 4uently to be found, particularly amongst 



foreign oats, perfectly sweet, and free froDj 

 dust, and white and clear : sift them well, and 

 blow the husks, chaff, or any light oats away, 

 and be sure to keep the manger very clean. 

 When the Horse has eaten his oats, and 

 during which time you will just clear his 

 dung from behind him, but be careful you do 

 not disturb his wet litter, so as to occasion the 

 vapour or stench to arise, you may strip off 

 his cloths, rub the dung, if any, off his hind 

 quarters, hocks, &c., and giving him a light 

 brush over, put on his exercising cloth and 

 saddle ; then turn him round, brush his head 

 and ears, put on his bridle, and take him out 

 for exercise. The stripping and brushing I 

 look upon to be as refreshing to the Horse ati 

 your washing, when you get out of bed in the 

 morning. While the Horses are out at exer- 

 cise, a person should be left at home to clear 

 away all the wet dung, immediately setting 

 doors and windows open, in order to get the 

 stable sweet against their return, all the stalls 

 set fair, and the stable cleanly swept. 



For exercise, choice should be made of the 

 driest and most open piece of turf, sod, or 

 heath, that is in the neighbourhood, and, like- 

 wise where there is some gradual ascents, if 

 of half a mile or a mile in length the better, 

 to give the Horse some gentle breathings, in 

 order to bring him into wind. You should 

 walk them the first half hour, letting them 

 empty themselves, yawn, stretch their necks, 

 and enjoy the sweet refreshing morning air, 

 which is invigorating, bracing, and strengthen- 

 ing both to man and beast. So manage your 

 walks, as to bring your Horse about this time 

 to a convenient place to give him a gentle 

 gallop ; begin slow and gradually, increase 

 your pace till you finish at a half or three- 

 quarters speed ; proportion the length of your 



