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THE MODERN SYSTEM 



The Horse having had his sweating gallop, 

 should be brought into the stable, and immedi- 

 ately scraped and rubbed dry, with all possi- 

 ble dispatch, and a clean dry cloth put on 

 him, not the one he was sweated in ; which 

 should be got clean and dry against it is 

 wanted aa-ain. If he had no water while out, 

 now give him some after he is perfectly cool 

 and comfortable, and should the weather be 

 very cold, the chill should be taken off, but 

 not made warm ; water that has stood several 

 hours in a warm stable, is sufficiently chilled, 

 and may be given him, or you may, after 

 rubbing him, walk him about, and give him 

 water, and gallop him gently to warm it, but 

 not to heat him, then bring him home. 



A Horse treated in the manner I liave 

 directed, will, in three or four weeks, after 

 having been through his physic, be fit for 

 hunting, if proper regaid is paid to his feed- 

 ins:. His food I have directed to be of the 

 best and cleanest quality, and the quantity 

 must be regulated according to circumstances ; 

 such as size, constitution, &c. &c. Now the 

 Horse's daily exercise will be, on the average, 

 not less than twenty miles a day with this 

 exercise, the quantity he eats will not hunt 

 him, if he does not get too fat ; for the Horse, 

 for hunting, must have plenty of good feed in 

 him, but must not be burthened with flesh ; 

 if he feeds heartily, he must have strong exer- 

 cise to keep his flesh down ; if inclinable to 

 run to belly and be fat, he must be stinted 

 proportionably, or occasionally take alterative 

 medicine ; but when he comes to hunt three 

 times a week, there will be no occasion to 

 stint him, he will never be burthened with 

 Aesh with such exercise. 



The Horse being got into condition, and 

 the hunting commenced, vou are relieved 



from that part which regards the sweating; 

 and instead of giving exercise, to keep the 

 Horse's flesh down, and keep him in wind 

 your exercise is now for the purpose of walk- 

 ing off stiffness, occasioned by over exertion, 

 bracing the system that has been relaxed by 

 excessive exercise, , and creating appetite ; 

 hard running, anu long distances, continued 

 for many hours, will consequently affect a 

 Horse more or less, particularly at the begin- 

 ning of the season, before they are accustomed 

 to it, so. that their appetites will fail as 

 well as their limbs be stiff; and your atten- 

 tion is now to recover the Horse from that 

 debility occasioned by over fatigue. 



Young Horses, and those not seasoned to 

 hunting, though in condition, are mostly 

 affected by severe days, and such must not 

 be expected to hunt more than one day in 

 the week ; for it will take nearly that time 

 for them to recover from a hard run, either 

 with fox or stag ; but seasoned hunters will 

 stand their work twice, and in many case« 

 three times a week ; though that, for a con- 

 tinuance, I think too much for any Horse to 

 stand, unless it is with harriers only, where 

 there is seldom much hard running. 



Now to order your Horses when they hunt 

 you feed and dress much after the same man- 

 ner as before directed, only when you know 

 of going out in the morning, rather shorten 

 your allowance of hay in the evening, and 

 increase his corn, but not to gorge him. He 

 should always have a good bed to invite him 

 to lay down, and stretch his legs; but you 

 must keep his muzzle on, for though mariy 

 do not constantly use the muzzle ; yet, if it be 

 used at all, it is most proper at this time 

 In the morning put your Horse on tlie rack 

 rein, but do not give him ai y hay. This 



