THE EQUESTRIAN ART. 267 



fible people, who, from an idea of fuppofed 

 convenience, or the ftill more contemptible one 

 of infli&ing punifhment upon misfortune, with 

 their horfes curbed to fuch a degree, as to fill 

 their mouths with blood. The natives of Bar- 

 bary, and even the Arabs there, totally degene- 

 rate from the mild virtue of humanity to beads, 

 praclifed in their parent country, are the moft 

 cruel to their horfes of any people in the 

 world. Thev ride with long and fharp fpikes 

 affixed tc their ftirrups by way of fpurs, with 

 which they are conftantly goading and wound- 

 ing the bellies of their horfes, in a long line, as 

 far as the flank; whilft their awkward, pon- 

 derous, and cutting bits, lacerate the mouth, 

 till it ftream with blood. Is it not almofl 

 enough to make an humane man curfe the fyf- 

 tem of nature, which hath thus permitted one 

 brute to infult the feelings, and riot in the miw 

 fery of another ? 



Previous to mounting, every gentleman will 

 find his account in examining the liate of both 

 horfe and furniture, with his own eves and 

 hands ; for however good and careful his groom 

 may generally be, it is a maxim, that too much 

 ought not to be expected from the head of 

 him who labours with his hands. Befides, all 

 fuch feduloufly avoid trouble, particularly in 

 nice matters. For example, fee that your curb 

 is right, that your reins are not twifted, that 



your 



