PASTURING. 163 



country, or proceed to the stable. The fore feet are some- 

 times shackled in order to conBne them ; but these fetters, if 

 worn for a long time, are apt to alter the horse's action, ren- 

 dering it short, confined, irregular, at least for a time, till he 

 regains the use of his shoulders. Sometimes the horse is tied 

 by a rope to a stake driven in the ground. He then requires 

 almost constant watching, for he must be often shifted as he 

 eats down the grass, and he may get his legs entangled in the 

 rope, thereby casting himself, and receiving serious injury, 

 u-nless relief be immediate. Sometimes he is tied to a stake, 

 which he can drag about the field. He soon finds that he can 

 walk where he pleases, but he cannot run, and seldom attempts 

 to leap. This, however, is also liable to throw the horse 

 down, or to injure his legs by getting them entangled in the 

 rope. To prevent the horse from leaping, a board is some- 

 times suspended round his neck, reaching to his knees, which 

 it as apt to bruise. None of these clumsy and unsafe restraints 

 should ever be employed, when it is possible to dispense with 

 them. Few horses, mares in spring and stallions excepted, 

 require them after the first two days. For horses that are 

 turned out only an hour or two during the day, they are as 

 much used to enable him to be easily caught when wanted, as 

 to prevent him from wandering. 



Attendance "while out. Horses at grass should be visited 

 at least once every day. If neglected for weeks, as often 

 happens, one may be stolen, and conveyed out of the country 

 before he is missed ; the fences may be broken ; the water 

 may fail; the horses may be lamed, or attacked with sickness-, 

 one may roll into a ditch, and die there for want of assistance 

 to extricate him j the shoes may be cast ; the heels may crack ; 



