32 EXERCISING. 



sod or any soft elastic surface being better than the road 

 for the purpose ; and if the latter only is available, use 

 knee-caps as a safeguard. 



Two hours' daily exercise (if he gets it) at a fast walk 

 will be enough to keep a hack fit for his work ; and it 

 is usual with some experienced field-horsemen never to 

 allow their hunters, when once up to their icorlx, to get 

 any but w^alking exercise for as much as four hours 

 daily, two hours at a time — that is, when they desire to 

 keep them "fit." 



Ladies' and elderly gentlemen's horses ought most 

 particularly to be exercised, and not overfed, to keep 

 them tame and tractable, and to guard against accidents. 



The foregoing directions refer to the preparations 

 for the master's work, and are what I should give my 

 groom. 



Siveaiing. — In case it is desirable to prepare an ani- 

 mal for any extraordinary exertion, the readiest, safest, 

 and most judicious means is by sweating, carefully pro- 

 ceeded with, by using two or three sets of body-clothes, 

 an empty stomach being indispensable for the process, 

 and a riding-school, if available, the best place for the 

 necessary exercise, — a sweat being thus sooner obtained 

 free from cold air, and the soft footing of such a place 

 saving the jar on the legs more even than the sod in 

 the field, unless it happen to be very soft. 



Sweating is a peculiarly healthy process for either 

 man or beast ; and to judge of the benefit derived by 

 a horse through that means, from the effect of a heavy 

 perspiration through exercise on one's self, there seems 

 little doubt that it is very renewing to the phi/sique. 



Ringittg or Loungeing with a cavesson, though not 

 ordinarily adopted, except by the trainer, is nevertheless 



