44 



THE MODERN SYSTEM 



(hide bound), and their coats looking dead 

 and russetty. Tiiese are a kind of Horse 1 

 would not keep ; though Horses affected with 

 worms will put on similar appearances : there- 

 fore, if a high-prized Horse, which of course 

 makes him valuable, I should try a course of 

 medicine before 1 parted with him : this fre- 

 quently, with good grooming, will renovate a 

 Horse, putting on the above appearances : if 

 you shouJd not be inclined to go to the expence, 

 they will have a tolerable appearance, after a 

 month or six weeks grass, which acts, and 

 has the same effect as physic. Now, this is 

 the best time to dispose of such a Horse, for 

 they frequently return to their first state when 

 kept in the stable, with only having moderate 

 work. I would not have it understood that 

 grass is improper for Horses ; on the contrary, 

 it is very good, where they can be spared ; 

 and pleasure Horses, that are only moderately 

 used, may be kept at grass, and worked occa- 

 sionally, all the summer, giving them corn 

 when they work. It is for appearance and 

 ability to do extraordinary work, if required, 

 that condition is in such request. The Horse 

 that runs at grass, and is worked all the 

 summer, is soon got into condition for hunting 

 in the winter ; for his occasional working pre- 

 vents him getting over-fat and gross with the 

 grass ; and, without physicking when you take 

 him up, give him dry food with some good 

 sweating exercise, and he will soon be in wind 

 and condition for hunting. 



Turning out in winter to a straw yard, is a 

 custom with those who keep a Horse for 

 pleasure in the summer, and have no occasion 

 for him in the wintei : they will tell you how 

 beneficial it is for the Horse, cooling to the 

 h»odv. and bracins; to the limbs ; but these 

 arguments do not meet with my concurrence. 



Whatever may suit a man's taste or conveni- 

 ence, he will be sure to find some pretext (^^ 

 excuse for it, and like an old acquaintance of 

 mine, who is fond of a dram, is never at a loss 

 for a pretext to take one, if he is hot, it is to 

 prevent taking cold ; if he should happen to be 

 cold, it is to warm him ; and if neither, he is 

 sure to he troubled with the wind. So with 

 those who do not like the expence of keeping 

 a Horse in the stable in winter, when they 

 can seldom ride, they would persuade them- 

 selves, it was beneficial to the Horse to be 

 famished with cold and hunger for five or six 

 months. To keep Horses in stable, I admit, 

 is very expensive ; and in large towns, without 

 work, and where exercise is not convenient to 

 be given, is injurious to the Horse ; but not 

 near so hurtful as to be nearly famished, as 

 I have seen some taken up from a straw -yard, 

 and had scarcely^ recovered an aopearance 

 fit for a gentleman to be see*, on theii back. 

 Before the season arrivci for theii turning out 

 again, how much the constitution must be 

 weakened and debilitated, I shall leave my 

 readers to judge. When a Horse has been 

 rode hard all the summer, his legs may be- 

 come swelled or gorged, and require rest to 

 refresh and biing him about, and this may be 

 the only season he can be spared ; therefore, 

 under all circumstances, it is more convenient 

 than beneficial for a Horse to be turned out ia 

 winter. 



When it becomes expedient either for the 

 refreshment of the Horse's limbs, or the 

 sparing of the owner's pocket, I cannot but 

 recommend that the Horse should be prepared 

 for the extraordinary change he is to undergo 

 by first leaving off his cloths, then removing 

 him to a cooler stable, leaving off dressing, 

 giving him less, at least no corn, and, by 



