266 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



only observing, when they first take them up from 

 grass, to work them gently,: some turn out theirs all 

 the year. It is not unusual for such as follow the latter 

 method, to physic their horses at grass : they then 

 are taken up, well fed, and properly exercised, to get 

 them into order : this done, they are turned out for a 

 few hours every day when they are not ridden. The 

 pasture should be dry, and should have but little grass : 

 there they will stretch their limbs, and cool their 

 bodies, and will take as much exercise as is necessary 

 for them. I have remarked, that, thus treated, they 

 catch fewer colds, have the use of their limbs more 

 freely, and are less liable to lameness, than other 

 horses. Another advantage attends this method, 

 which, in the horses you ride yourself, you will allow 

 to be very material : — Your horse, when once he is in 

 order, will require less strong exercise than grooms 

 generally give their horses ; and his mouth, in all 

 probability, will not be the worse for it. 



The Earl of Pembroke, in his Military Equitation, 

 is, I find, of the same opinion : — He tells us, " it is of 

 the greatest consequence for horses to be kept clean, 

 regularly fed, and as regularly exercised : but whoever 

 chooses to ride in the way of ease and pleasure, with- 

 out any fatigue on horseback ; or, in short, does not 

 like to carry his horse, instead of his horse's carrying 

 him — must not suffer his horse to be exercised by a 

 groom ; standing up on his stirrups, holding himself on 



them out to grass is the best plan, and if they get a few old beans they 

 won't lose much muscle. Even if when they come up from grass their 

 legs are not so fine as those that have been standing in the stable, they 

 will be found to stand their work better than the others.] 



