THE EQUESTRIAN ART, 273 



thrown over his loins, or not, according to his 

 condition and the temperature of the air. I 

 fay, the (hade, becaufe all hoftlers are fond of 

 hanging a horfe, (already faint and opprefied 

 with heat) in the blazing fun, to dry; ior the 

 fame reafon they would their {hirt ; and I 

 believe horfes are frequently rendered fick, 

 and lofe their appetite thereby. At night, feed 

 as early as poflible, that the horfe may the 

 fooner take his reft; the ufual allowance, or 

 double feed, at this period is, eight pints of 

 oats, and two or three of beans. Suffer not 

 the ftable-doclors to exhibit any of their nof- 

 trums by way of flopping your horfe's feet, 

 but caufe them to be warned with either cold 

 water or warm, according to circumftances ; if 

 hard and hot, of courfe warm water is indi- 

 cated, and the feet fhould be foaked in it a 

 confiderable time. 



In very hot weather, and upon hard roads, 

 it is exceedingly comfortable to the horfe, to 

 have his feet juft cooled, in any water which 

 may lie in the way ; the friclion upon the iron 

 (hoe, in a fwift pace, muff render it nearly 

 burning hot. 



If a horfe, which is known to be kind, flops 

 fhort, in the manner of a reftiff one, it is ex- 

 treme cruelty to fpur him on, or correct him 

 for it; becaufe it is merely a petition from 

 him, to gain attention to fome latent com- 



vol i. t plaint. 



