WORK. 37 



dragoons dismount and walk beside their horses on a 

 march, at least part of the way, for distances of one or 

 two miles at a time, is not more apparent to those in 

 authority (many of them practical men), in whose power 

 it lies to make a regulation so very salutary for both 

 man and horse. The more the beneficial effect of such 

 an arrangement is considered, the more desirable it 

 would appear to be, especially in dry weather. The 

 great occasional relief to an overweighted horse of 

 being divested of his rider now and then, would rather 

 serve than injure the latter, on account of the variety 

 of exercise, as before remarked, while his handling of 

 the horse would decidedly be enlivened by the change. 



Signals of Distress on increased pace. — Prominently 

 may be mentioned a horse becoming winded, or, as 

 sportsmen call it, having " bellows to mend," which in 

 proper hands ought seldom to occur, even in the hunt- 

 ing-field, as there are tokens which precede it — such 

 as the creature hanging on his work, poking his head 

 backwards and forwards, describing a sort of semicircle 

 with his nose, gaping, the ears lopping, &c. 



Some horsemen are in the habit of giving ale or 

 porter (from a pint to a quart of either) to their horses 

 during severe work. This is not at all a bad plan, if 

 the beast will take it ; and as many masters are fond 

 of petting their animals with biscuit or bread, a piece 

 of either being occasionally soaked in one of the above 

 liquids when given, will accustom the creature so trained 

 to the taste of them. 



After the work is over a little well-made gruel is a 

 great restorative ; and when a long journey is com- 

 pleted, a bran-mash might be given, as mentioned under 

 the head of " Feeding," page 22. 



