136 



EXERCISE. 



lar, and not exhausting. He is neither predisposed to diseas* 

 by idleness, nor worn out by excessive exertion. He, like bis 

 master, has enough to do to keep him in health, and not 

 enough to distress or injure him ; on the contrary, the regu- 

 larity of his work prolongs life to an extent seldom witnessed 

 in the stable of the gentleman. These remarks on exercise, 

 then, must have a general bearing, or have principal reference 

 to those persons who keep a horse for business or pleasure, 

 but cannot afford to maintain a servant for the express pur- 

 pose of looking after it. The first rule to be laid down is, 

 that every horse should have daily exercise. The animal, that 

 with the usual stable feeding stands idle for three or four 

 days, as is the case in many establishments, must suffer. He 

 is predisposed to fever, or to grease, or, most of all, to diseases 

 of the foot ; and if, after three or four days of inactivity, he is 

 ridden far and fast, he is almost sure to have inflammation of 

 the lungs or of the feet. 



Any horse, used for business or pleasure merely, suffers much 



more from idleness 



^^^^ than he does from 



l^^W work. A stable-fed 



sJ horse should have 



^ two hours' exercise 



^^^ disease. 



\ every day, if he is 



to be kept free from 



Nothing 



^ of extraordinary, or 



s^^^ even of ordinary, 



labor can be effected 



on the road or in 



