AIR — AMBLE 



with the object of making their animals appear either older 

 or younger than they actually are. 



Some horses, and especially ponies, live to great ages, 

 but probably Old Bill, the property of the late Mr Petrie, 

 of Edinburgh, is entitled to claim the honour of being the 

 Methuselah of the equine race. He was in his fifty-seventh 

 year when the painting from which the accompanying 

 illustration was made, and lived three years longer, when 

 he was shot. The above statement is vouched for by 

 Professor Owen Williams, whose father attended Old Bill, 

 and it may be added that the veteran was in light work 

 until the end. (See Bishopping, Coper.) 



Air. — Horses not only benefit by, but require, fresh air. 

 Consequently, a supply should always be afforded them 

 in their stables. At the same time draughts should be 

 avoided. (See Draughts^ Ventilation.) 



Airing. — A slang term applied to horses which run in a 

 race but are not intended to do their best. 



Airing Clothing. — It is desirable that a horse's clothing 

 should be properly aired from time to time, either in front of 

 a fire or by hanging out in the sun. Of course the above pre- 

 cautions must always be adopted if there is the least suspicion 

 that the clothing is damp. 



Aloes. — The best and safest purgative. (See Medicines.) 



Alteratives. — Medicines which improve the general tone 

 without purging. (See Medicines, Prescriptions.) 



Amble.— A horse which moves the legs on each side of 

 his body simultaneously is said to amble, the result of 

 the movement being a swinging gait which, though not so 

 attractive as the trot, is rather an assistance to the acquisition 

 of speed. (See Pacing.) 



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