NOTKS ON E(^riTATl()N !C 



hours of continuous work and effort witlioul eating, t.m ai a 

 much slower gait. Therefore, the question of tlu' condition 

 of a hunting horse in Enghmd and in PVanee is very differ- 

 ent. 



"All summer, you should feed your horsr (;iaul)cr'> 

 salts, one handful in a mash at least once every ten ortwclv. 

 days. He should have a suhstantial hut gradually increan- 

 ing feed of ten to sixteen pounds of hay, and tm to twelve 

 quarts of oats every day to hegin w^ith, depending up<.n the 

 temperament of the horse. Give him regular work every 

 day or work him tw^o days and let him rest the third day. 

 His work must last at least two hours; at first, one hour at 

 a walk on soft or heavy ground, preferahly over ploughed 

 ground, then a moderate but continuous trot over ground 

 that is not too hard, for at least three miles; then at least a 

 half hour at a walk. Continue this work for six weeks, that 

 is till about the 15th of July. Then increase the length of 

 time at the trot and begin to trot in place of walking in tin- 

 work in the open field, but never push the horse into the 

 rapid gaits. Continue this until about the loth of August. 

 The muscles of your horse will already begin to grow harder 

 and firmer; they will be stronger and his endurance and 

 wind will be improved. Begin to increase the speed at 

 which he works and then, if he is still too fat, you may give 

 him another purge. A few days later you may increase his 

 oats a little, up to fourteen or sixteen quarts, depending up- 

 on the temperament of the horse. The work is then increa.^- 

 ed by a gallop over ploughed ground, always following a 

 progressive course, beginning with a short and rapid gallop. 

 and ending, on the 15th of September, with a goo<l gallnp 

 at hunting speed for five or six miles. If the horse is still 

 too fat, if the muscles of the neck, loins and thighs d.» not 

 stand out well, if he perspires too freely, if the sweat is a 

 white lather and not a colorless fluid, give him two or three 

 gallops under blankets, covering well the parts you wish tn 

 lighten. For instance, if the neck is too heavy, too Habhy. 

 put on one or two hoods. If, on the contrary, he has too 



