THE IMPROVED AUT OF FARRIERY. 291 



without clothing, simply feeding them with the best 

 hay and oats, and giving them strong exercise every 

 day. In this state they were travelled to the different 

 races, and sometimes to increase their disguise, a pair 

 of panniers were put upon their backs. This trick 

 of course did not last long, but it enabled him to make 

 some advantageous matches, by which he won immense 

 sums. 



As it may not be unentertaining to the reader to 

 give him a specimen of the early system of training, 

 the following extract, from a very old author on eques- 

 trian matters, has been selected : — 



" The ordering a horse for a match or plate. — When 

 you have either matched your horse, or design him to 

 run for a plate, you should consider that you ought to 

 reserve a month at least to draw his body perfectly 

 clean, and to reiine his wind to that degree of per- 

 fection that is capable of being attained by art. 



" In the first place, take an exact view of the state 

 of his body, both outwardly and inwardly, as whether 

 he be low or high in flesh, or whether he be dull or 

 heavy when abroad ; and if this has been by too hard 

 riding, give him an ounce of diapente in a pint of good 

 old Malaga sack, which will both cleanse his body and 

 revive his spirits. Then for the first week feed him 

 continually with bread, oats, and split beans, giving 

 him sometimes the one, and sometimes the other, ac- 

 cording to what he likes best, always leaving some in 

 his locker to eat at leisure when you are absent ; and 

 when you return at your hours of feeding, take away 

 what is left and give him fresh, till you have made 

 him wanton and playful. For this purpose, take no- 

 tice that, though you ride him every morning and 

 evening on airing, and every other day on hunting, yet 

 you are not to sweat him, or put him to any violent la- 



