2 34 XENOPHON's TREATISE 



meal, to remove, or turn * him from the manger, that 

 he may return to his food, to his fecond or evening 

 feed, with frefli appetite. 



In order that the Stable-yard may beft anfwer the piir- 

 pofe of hardening \ and ftrengthening the horfes feet, 



let 



* Our method of keeping a large quantity of litter and dung under 

 the horfes feet is wrong and injudicious. The litter, mixed with dung,, 

 heats the feet and legs, and makes the hoofs become dry and brittle. 

 Befides this, the horl'c is not fo much tempted to lie down at night, as 

 he would be, if it were removed, and fpread under him again at 

 proper fealbns. The fame error prevails in keeping the rack conti- 

 nually crammed with hay, which the horfe being obliged to fmell 

 continually, is brought to naufeate and loath it.— A certain portion 

 fhould be given at a time, of which, if the animal leaves any part, it 

 ought to be remove^ ■■, that by having wanted food for a certain time, 

 his appetite may call for it ; he will then relifli what he eats, and 

 thrive better upon a fmall quantity thus dealt out, than on a much, 

 larger improperly given. 



-j- As much isfaid in the preceding chapter concerning the beft method 

 of preferving the hoofs, and rendering them hard and tough, by the 

 means of a Jlone pavement on which the horfes were to ftand when in 

 the ftable ; it may not be thought foreign to the fubjeft, to add a more 

 particular account of the ancient method oi Jhoeing horfes, if that term 

 may be ufed, for an occafional covering of their feet. Mention is made 

 in fome * ancient authors of this praftice. Yet it is certain, that if we 

 undcrftand the coverings of the feet in ufe among them to be the fame 

 as the modern Jhoes, or like them in any refpefl, we labour under a 

 palpable miftake. The ancients did not Jhoe their horfes-, that is to fay> 

 tiiey did not nail upon their hoofs any pieces of iron, or of other metal, 

 in the form and (hape of the modern horfejhoes; but when they intended 



* Catullus, Appian, Pliny, Suetonius. 



to 



