232 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



uncontaminated warm air, with its full proportion of 

 oxygen, picketed perhaps without any covering, or 

 at most sheltered from the rain only by a tent, and, 

 whenever exercised abroad, still surrounded by the 

 same pure and warm atmosphere, cannot fairly be 

 drawn in comparison with the English horse, which, 

 to be useful, must be exposed to every variation of 

 our variable climate. 



" We are keeping our pampered field and turf 

 horses in a temperature in which we, with the heat 

 of our bodies only at 98, could not long exist without 

 inducing disease, either in the active form of fever 

 and inflammation, or in the more imperceptible, 

 though equally destructive forms of scrofula, hepatitis, 

 and a long et cetera of chronic diseases. How then 

 can we expect that the horse, with the animal heat 

 at 100° F., and therefore more fitted to withstand cold 

 than ourselves, should retain his health for many 

 years when subjected to such murderous discipline ? 

 Surely the sensations of the animal itself must be the 

 best criterion of what nature requires ; and I will 

 venture to say that nine horses out of ten will, if the 

 stable door be open, instantly walk out into the fresh 

 air, instead of remaining in the close contaminated 

 atmosphere, which our wise grooms and their equally 

 wise masters insist upon being best fitted to bring 

 the muscular power of the horse to the greatest 

 perfection. 



" I hail with delight any plan, any idea, which, 

 however remotely, saves my favourite horse from 

 the horrible discipline of living in an atmosphere 



