HOR 



HOR 



205 



the quantity of their eating, usuaJ- 

 ly are the most profitable. Plough 

 horses, and all draught horses, 

 should be large, as their weight is 

 of importance in drawing; and as 

 it is often inconvenient to put two 

 horses to one plough, especially in 

 horse hoeing. Largeness is also 

 of importance, when they are used 

 single, in journeying, as they most 

 usually are, in a chaise or sleigh. 



A horse's manner of going is a 

 matter of no small importance. — 

 The ambling gate, or what in this 

 country is vulgarly called pacing, 

 is not good, neither for the horse 

 nor the rider. It is tiresome to 

 both. It habituates a horse to car- 

 ry his feet too near to the ground, 

 so that he is the more liable to trip 

 and stumble. 



The method so much practised 

 formerly in this country, of teach- 

 ing horses to pace swiftly, and rac- 

 ing in that gait, is highly perni- 

 cious. It puts them to a much 

 greater strain than runnitig ; and 

 numbers have been thus ruined. — 

 Some colts naturally amble, and 

 others trot. But all may be made 

 fo trot, if due care and pains be 

 taken with them while they are 

 young, or as soon as they are first 

 ridden. In a carriage an amble is 

 tiresome to a horse, appears highly 

 improper, and is disgusting to every 

 one. And I do not see why it 

 should appear at all more tolera- 

 ble in the saddle. 



When any change of gait is want- 

 ed for the ease of the rider, the 

 canter is to be preferred, than 

 which none can be more easy. 



The way of breaking a young 

 horse that is mostly used in this 



country, is highly absurd, hurtful, 

 and dangerous. He is mounted and 

 ridden before he has been used to 

 tlie bridle or to bearing any weight 

 on his back. If he will not go for- 

 ward, he is most unmercifully beat- 

 en ; by which his spirits are bro- 

 ken, and his strength impaired. If 

 he rears up,he is pulled backwards, 

 with the risk of hurting both horse 

 and man. If he runs and starts, as 

 he probably will under such man- 

 agement, he flings the rider, per- 

 haps is frightened, gains his liberty, 

 and IS encouraged to do just so the 

 next opportunity; and the unfor- 

 tunate rider blesses himself, us he 

 has reason to do, if he escape with- 

 out broken limbs. Or if the horse 

 should chance to go kindly, the ri- 

 der continues the exeicise till the 

 horse is fatigued, discouraged, and 

 injured. 



Instead of this mad manage.'nent, 

 the way practised in the older 

 countries should be adopted. Let 

 a horse first ofall be tamed with 

 the bridle. by leading him again and 

 again ; in the first place, after, or 

 by the side of another horse ; and 

 after he walks well, bring him to 

 trot after his leader. In the next 

 place, put on the saddle, and lead 

 him in that, time after time. Then 

 lay a small weight on the saddle, 

 and if he be apt to start, fasten it, 

 that it may not be flung off, increa- 

 sing the weight from time fo time, 

 till he learns to carry what is equal 

 to a man's ivelght. Lastly, let a 

 man gently mount him, while an- 

 other holds him by the bridle, and 

 fix himself firmly in the saddle. — 

 The place of riding is recommend- 

 ed to be a ploughed field. Let him 



