WORK. 35 



The softness of the turf, as fitting it for the indul- 

 gence of a gallop, is indicated by the depth of the 

 horse-tracks ; there is not much impression left on a 

 hard road. 



It should be always borne in mind that " it is the pace 

 that kills," and unless the wear and tear of horse-flesh 

 be a matter of no consideration, according as the pace 

 is increased from that of five or six miles per hour, so 

 should the distance for the animal's day's work be 

 diminished. 



For instance, if you require him to do seven miles in 

 the hour daily, that seven miles must always be con- 

 sidered as full work for the day ; if you purpose going 

 eight miles per hour, your horse should only travel six 

 miles daily at that rate ; if faster still, five miles only 

 should be your bearer's limit ; if at a ten-mile rate, 

 then four miles; or at a twelve-mile rate, three miles 

 per day. But of course such regulations apply to daily 

 work only, as a horse is capable of accomplishing a great 

 deal more without injury, if only called upon to do so 

 occasionally. 



A man may require to do a day's journey of thirty 

 miles, or a day's hunting, and such work being only 

 occasional, no harm whatever to the animal need result ; 

 but about eight or ten miles a-day at an alternate walk 

 or trot (say six-miles-an-hour pace) is as much as any 

 valuable animal ought to do if worked regularly. 



No horse ought to be hunted more than twice a- week 

 at the utmost. 



The work of horses, especially when ridden, ought to 

 be so managed that the latter part of the journey may 

 be done in a walk, so that they may be brought in 

 cool 



