288 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



torn of taking liim into a brook up to his belly, and 

 riding him round for a considerable length of time, so 

 that he has to pass through a fresh succession of cold 

 water every time he goes round. This practice is very 

 common among post-boys, and horse-keepers to stage- 

 coaches, and very frequently brings on the most violent 

 inflammatory attacks on the lungs, or on the intestines ; 

 and every coach-proprietor and inn -keeper who has 

 been in the habit of suffering this practice, should at 

 once abolish it. 



ON TRAINING FOR THE COURSE AND THE 



CHASE 



There is scarcely any part of the management of horses 

 that requires more judgment and nice discrimination 

 than that which relates to the present subject. Cer- 

 tain received opinions, and deep-rooted prejudices, 

 have long held an arbitrary sway in matters of this na- 

 ture, and whoever is bold enough to dispute the sound- 

 ness of these opinions must expect nothing but ridicule 

 for his pains. The plea of experience is constantly 

 thrown in his teeth ; and the ancient charter of tor- 

 menting and destroying horses is maintained with as 

 much pertinacity as Magna Charta is by every true 

 Briton and friend of his country. 



But the validity of experience must in all cases de- 

 pend principally on the variety of systems that have 

 been put in practice, and on a fair and impartial com- 

 parison between them. For the experience of a set 

 of men who have never trode but in the same beaten 

 track cannot be worth much. It may, indeed, some- 



