TREATMENT AFTER WORK 305 



wind, are all sound, beans may be allowed without fear ; but when there is 

 a screw loose in any of these departments, they produce inflammation there, 

 and should be carefully avoided. Ten pounds of hay may also be laid down 

 as the average quantity of this article suited to the hunter ; but here, also, 

 no absolute rule can be carried out. Some horses would " drop in two," as 

 the grooms say, if only allowed ten pounds of hay daily ; while others would 

 look quite lusty with that quantity. A handful of chaff with each feed of 

 corn is all that should be given of this article, as more than this is apt to 

 fill the horse out in the middle of the day. Towards the end of this period, 

 -.vhich may extend to five or six weeks, the horse gradually gets into high 

 condition, and at any time, on a day's notice, he may be ready for the 

 hunting-field. All that is required is to give him no hay on that morning, 

 but to feed him twice on his usual allowance of coi'n, with a few go-downs 

 of water only each time. The hunter does not require to be " set " over- 

 night, like the racehorse, and he may advantageously be given his usual 

 weight of hay at the bedding him up the night before ; but if he has any 

 tendency to eat his litter, it is prudent at all times, but more especially 

 then, to put a muzzle on him late at night, when he has eaten his hay. 



Hacks and Harness-horses demand nearly as much time and care to 

 prepare them for their work, especially in relation to the amount of corn 

 which is allowed them. They seldom want so much as five quarterns daily ; 

 but whatever quantity they may require, it should not be given them until 

 they are gradually accustomed to its use. So also with regard to the 

 hammering of their feet and legs on the road, it will be found that these 

 demand seasoning as much as their wind and muscles. If this is not 

 attended to, the best-formed legs and feet will become inflamed, and a 

 valuable horse may be lamed when, with proper care, he might be made to 

 do his work with ease. Our own bodies, when untrained to bear the blows 

 of the fist, show the marks of the glove clearly enough ; but in the course 

 of time, when the skin has gradually become inured to the stimulus, even 

 the terrible right hand of a prize-fighter would fail to leave its mark upon 

 the ribs of a well-trained opponent. This difference in the result of the 

 application of physical force arises partly from the tendency to inflam- 

 mation being subdued by temperate living and abundant exercise, and partly 

 from the nerves and vessels of the skin becoming habituated to the blows 

 which they receive. So also with the hack and harness-horse ; when first 

 they are brought into the stable, their vessels are full of gross humours, 

 and their feet and legs have long been accustomed only to the soft and 

 elastic turf upon which they have been reared. They ai'e, therefore, 

 prone to inflammation in every way ; and until their systems have been 

 hardened by plenty of exercise, and their legs and feet have been gradually 

 inured to our hard roads, they should be kept from every kind of fast 

 work. 



TREATMENT AFTER WORK 



After work the horse requires to be treated according to its nature, and 

 the extent to which it has been carried. Thus the hunter or the polo pony 

 may demand remedies for exhaustion, blows on the legs, thorns in the legs, 

 overreaches, cuts, etc. ; but the hack and carriage-horse will only need the 



