THv: HOK61:. 55 



mal, therefore, does not fatigue himself uselessly; 

 as his master exercises the precaution of taking 

 advantage of circumstances to assist him as much 

 as possible. A bad rider is too timid to play tricks 

 with a horse, and the animal is consequently, from 

 a very different cause, left much to his own way, and 

 thus there is the less liability to accident in this case. 

 But the self-conceited rider, or driver, mars nature, 

 checks the animal in his step, ultimately renders 

 him what is termed tied in the shoulders, and is always 

 keeping him on the fi*et. The result is, that the 

 horse becomes leg-weary much sooner than he would 

 otherwise be, and hence he is more apt to stumble 

 and fall. But if you ask a gentleman of the descrip- 

 tion alluded to, why he thus keeps his horse in a 

 continual fidget, the answer would probably be, that 

 it is to keep him up. 



But as accidents, from a variety of causes, will be 

 ever occurring to horses, it will not be irrelevant to 

 say something as to the mode of cure, as well as the 

 means of prevention. In the case of injured knees 

 or falls, as soon after the accident has occurred as 

 possible, the knees should be well bathed for some 

 time with hot water, even though they should not 

 be grazed ; as this timely precaution will tend to 

 prevent swelling from a bruise. If the knees should 

 be cut, they should be well washed and cleansed from 

 even the smallest particle of gravel they may have 

 received. Let them afterwards be well bathed for 

 a moderate period ; but no grease of any kind should 

 be applied to the wounded part. If the cut be not 

 deep, a little burnt alum, finely powdered, and laid 

 over the place, so as to dry it and keep off the dust, 

 will suffice ; but if the wound should be of a more 

 serious nature, the better plan is always to call in 

 the assistance of a veterinary surgeon. Ostlers or 

 stablemen, in cases of this kind should never be 

 trusted ; their nostrums, or supposed remedies, are 



