LETTER XII 



PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN THE MOULTING SEASON 

 — SWEATING 



NATURE so delights in freshness that she 

 will not suffer her creatures to wear their 

 old clothes ; and to the horse — no doubt 

 her favourite — she has given two suits 

 in the year — one in the spring and the other in the 

 autumn. The periods alluded to — but particularly 

 the autumnal one — are the most trying of any to those 

 kept in an artificial state — the constitution being by 

 the law of nature more than commonly susceptible 

 to morbid impressions. Thus it is, that, comparatively 

 speaking, so few gentlemen's hunters commence the 

 season in blooming condition ; at least, it is one of 

 the principal obstacles to that desirable end. People, 

 in the warmth of their imagination, seldom advert 

 to causes and effects ; but the animal economy is 

 affected in so many various and unlooked-for ways, 

 that a groom, to be sure of his object, must ever be 

 on the alert. He wiU soon find out there is no 

 cathohcon for getting horses into condition. He must 

 investigate ; he must reflect ; he must exercise his 

 reason, and make all the use of his common sense, 

 if he has any. 



