64 TB£ HOR8&. 



crease his ability to perform liis daily duty. To 

 neglect a matter so impoitant as that of supplying 

 a proper quantity of food, is the same as deliberately 

 contriving the destruction of the poor animal. Under 

 all circumstances, therefore, if the traveller desires 

 to preserve the health and mettle of his horse, he 

 will always refresh his nag when he needs refresh- 

 ment himself. It is proverbial, that a good master 

 is always merciful to his beast. 



BROKEN KNEES. 



Persons who have travelled much have probably 

 observed, that horses accustomed to road-work, par- 

 ticularly if they should come under the description 

 of those which are let out to hire, or those belong- 

 ing to commercial travellers, are frequently broken- 

 kneed. If you inquire of these traffickers in horses 

 the reason of so many animals being blemished in 

 this manner, they will generally give the most unsa- 

 tisfactory answers. They tell you it is by throwing 

 the horse down, but which is a phi-^se appro2)riate 

 only in certain cases. By over-working a horse, and 

 so making him weary on his legs, he will 2:)robably 

 fall, and so far the phrase of throwing him doivn 

 may not be incorrect. It is scarcely possible to 

 throw down a good horse under proper treatment, 

 but, under contrary usage, it is equally difficult to 

 keep him firm upon his legs. 



Those who pique themselves on their superior 

 knowledge of horses, are precisely tlie persons who 

 are the most liable to meet with accidents to their 

 nags; because the knowledge of such persons is 

 always shallow, and rather vain-boasting, or pre- 

 tence, than otherwise. Paradoxical though it may 

 seem, the worst as well as the best horsemen meet 

 with the fewest accidents by falls. A good rider or 

 dliver allows his horse to go as he pleases; the ani- 



