128 THE HORSE 



I write this letter to call your attention to a gray mare, stone 

 blind, which we worked in our business for fourteen years. 

 When she had been worked for about twelve years, she seemed 

 to have a general breakdown, and about that time you and I 

 had a conversation in regard to " reconstructed horses," and 

 you advised me to give this mare three months' lay-off and see 

 what effect it would have. I followed your instructions — 

 we have a large yard — and this mare was turned out every 

 day, and most of the time we hired a boy to take her out and 

 give her some grass. In two months' time she came back 

 perfectly well and seemingly as good as ever. We worked her 

 for about two years from that time, and then we pensioned her 

 and sent her to a farm. 



We have done this same thing with three others, and one 

 of these was run down so badly that our veterinary surgeon 

 advised me to have him killed. He declared that one of this 

 horse's lungs was nearly gone, and thought he was not worth 

 one dollar. We had used this horse for about eight years, 

 and concluded that we would try giving him a rest. After three 

 months' rest he was one of the handsomest horses in the city, 

 and he remained so for about two years. This year he died of 

 blackwater on account of being over fat. 



