34 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



more, if you think it necessary, but never 

 give more than he will clear with a good 

 appetite. 



According to the time that you should come 

 to stable at this part of the year, which, we 

 will say, is five o'clock, it will now be time 

 for you to breakfast, and you may leave the 

 hunters on the rack-rein, while you have your 

 breakfast, and they finish their hay. 



On your return to stable, observe that all 

 have cleared their racks, and if they have had 

 sufiicient time, and the racks not clear, take it 

 away, loosen the rack-reins, put on the muz- 

 zles, and leave them for three hours quiet, 

 that they may lay down if they are so disposed : 

 it is a desirable thing, for Horses to rest their 

 legs at all convenient opportunities. 



This will bring you to what is termed 

 middle day, or it may be one o'clock, for, as 

 the days, at this time of year, are getting 

 shorter, you must be at stable as punctual as 

 the clock, so that you may contrive to be at 

 home from exercise before dark. You should 

 proceed now, in like manner, as in the morn- 

 ing, putting on the rack-rein, giving him a 

 mouthful of hay, and a feed of oats in modera- 

 tion ; for you are not to fill him or encumber 

 him with food, particularly hay, when you are 

 going to take him out. While the Horse is 

 feeding, clear the dung from behind him, as 

 in the morning; then strip and brush him over 

 previous to putting on his exercising cloth and 

 saddle, and take him out, as in the morning. 

 If you are situated in a country that aflfords a 

 variety of suitable places for exercise, vary 

 your places as often as convenient, it will be 

 the more agreeable to both Horse and man : 

 keep off the gravel road, choosing to go on the 

 turf as much as you can. Having been out 

 about two hours, in which time you have 



given the Horse two gentle breathings, let him 

 have water and return. 



The stable, as before, in your absence, 

 should be cleared of all wet litter, and aired 

 and refreshed against your return. After 

 giving the Horse the opportunity to stale, 

 bring him into the stable, and repeat the rub- 

 bing of legs, and thorough dressing, having 

 given him a mouthful of hay to amuse him. 

 After his dressing, give him his feed of oats, 

 and give him a bit more hay, if he has cleared 

 the rack of what he had at coming in. This 

 will bring you to about five o'clock in the 

 afternoon, at which time you may leave him 

 on the rack-rein to eat his hay ; and between 

 seven and eight return to finish up for the 

 night. If you gave him a sufliciency at 

 leaving stable at five o'clock, he will need no 

 more, the Horse having had three hours to 

 feed of hay : if he is a slow feeder, he ought to 

 have cleared his rack by this time, and those 

 that have not, I should take it from them ; for 

 the Horse will not have any appetite for hay 

 that is glutted with it ; and as it is always 

 standing by him, you should be always 

 mindful not to give too much, so as to occa- 

 sion him to leave any. You 'have now to 

 feed with oats for the last feed ; see that all 

 their cloths are put on right, not atwist, but 

 smooth, and without a wrinkle about them ; 

 that every Horse finishes his corn, not leaving 

 any, then loosen the rack-rein, put on the 

 muzzle, and make up a good bed : having 

 plenty of dry litter, and a large stall to lay his 

 legs out at full length, leave him for the 

 night. 



This is the daily duty of the hunting stable, 

 without any material difference, except on 

 the days appropriated for sweating, which 

 must be, at least, two days in the week, till 



