THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 293 



match you are to run, or rather according to the strength 

 of your horse, and his abiUty for performing his heats; 

 for if you labour him beyond his strength it will take 

 him off his speed, weaken his limbs, and daunt his 

 spirit. If you give him too little exercise, it will render 

 him liable to be pursive and full of humours, and in- 

 cline him to a habit of laziness, so that when he comes 

 to be put to labour beyond his usual rate, he will grow 

 restive and settle like a jade." 



Training for the Chase. 



It is a rule with the best sportsmen that no horse 

 should be used in hunting till he is full five years old : 

 some will hunt them at four, but the horse at this time 

 is not come up to his true strength and courage, and 

 will not only fail at every tough trial, but will be sub- 

 ject to strain and accidents of that kind much more 

 than if he were to be kept another year first, when his 

 strength would be more confirmed. 



When the hunter is five years old, he may be put to 

 grass from the middle of May till Bartholomew -tide ; 

 for the weather between these is so hot, that it will be 

 very proper to spare him from work. At Bartholomew- 

 tide, the strength beginning to be nipped by frosts and 

 cold dews, so that it is apt to engender crudities in the 

 horse, he should be taken up while his coat is yet 

 smooth and sleek, and put into the stable. When he 

 is first brought home, he should be put in some secure 

 ;5nd spacious place where he may evacuate his body by 

 degrees, and be brought, not all at once, to warm 

 keeping : the next night he may be stabled up. He 

 ought to be wxll supplied with good meat, litter, and 



