286 THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 



it be from the consequent frequency of the operation, 

 or carelessness after it, I do not pretend to determine, 

 fatal results sometimes arise from it. Notwithstanding 

 this, and the severity of the operation, we have been, 

 I fear, too fond of it in our hunters' stables, and I am 

 obliged to confess that taking two inches off horses' 

 tails has now and then put fifty pounds into my 

 pocket. 



Docking colts when at the mare's foot has been 

 recommended, as, by taking the weight from the 

 extremity of the tail, it will be carried higher when the 

 animal arrives at maturity The proper length for the 

 docks of hunters, or other pleasure horses — at least 

 those of full size — is eight inches ; which, allowing for 

 a fourth part of that length in hair, forms a fair medium 

 between two extremes. A good tail is a great set-off 

 to well turned hind quarters ; but to my own eye 

 nothing is more disfiguring than the swish, unless it be 

 on a well-bred galloway. 



Human nature must blush at some of her errors. 

 When I was a boy, all cart horses were docked close 

 to their quarters, under the erroneous impression of 

 making them strong in the spine. At that time of 

 day, this cruelty was heightened by it being the 

 practice of farmers, with few exceptions, to turn out 

 their cart horses in the summer — a system now nearly 

 exploded in all good husbandry. 



DIURETICS 



I have sufficient reason to be convinced that 

 thousands of horses are rendered unserviceable by 



