ON THE HACKNEY AND HUNTER. 185 



where we can make humanity, and intereft, co- 

 incide — but do they not always coincide? 

 What a faving to individuals, and the country 

 at large, to double almoft the period of fervice 

 in that vaft number of our Horfes, which are 

 now prematurely torn to pieces, and deftroyed. 

 I fhall embrace every opportunity which pre- 

 fents, in the courfe of this work, to point out 

 the means mod conducive to this defirable end. 

 Horfes, for flow-draft (the lead injurious of 

 all their labour) may be put to gentle work, in 

 careful hands, even at two years old, without 

 fuftaining any injury ; and it is the cuftom of 

 the country : but great care ought to be taken, 

 never to put them upon long and heavy jobs, or 

 fubjecl them to heats and colds, and piercing 

 winds ; and, in particular, not to {train them at 

 dead pulls ; for amongft an infinity of acci- 

 dents, to which, in that green age, they are lia- 

 ble, hurts in the loins are to be apprehended, 

 from which they never after recover. Every 

 body will tell you, that road-horfes and hunters 

 fhould not be worked until five years old ; and 

 it is moll true : the latter, indeed, ought not to 

 endure many fevere runs, the firft feufon. But 

 it is not enough, that young Horfes are not 

 worked hard ; that is to fay, ridden fafi, or long 

 journeys ; for whatever bone they may have, 

 no high weight ought to come upon their 

 backs, until they have attained, at leaft, five 



years 



