ON THE CECONOMY OF THE STABLE. 49 



might be attended with very dangerous con- 

 fequences. Some have recommended the prac- 

 tice of denying litter to moift and tender-footed 

 horfes, ta the end that the flones may render 

 their hoofs obdurate and firm ; their reafoning 

 appears to me fuperficial ; fuch a method, I 

 beheve, would be a proper one to founder the 

 feet, and benumb the limbs. I neverthelefs 

 admit the truth of Mr. Clarke's reafoning upon 

 the relaxing effe6l of too hot a bed for the feet 

 and legs — eft modus in rebus. 



At Vienna, and perhaps in mofl: parts of 

 the Continent, the horfes, even in the firfl: fta- 

 bles, ftand all day upon boards, without litter, 

 or with the flail drefled in fo awkward and 

 fcanty a manner, that the little ftraw left is trod- 

 den into a heap at the horfe's hinder heels. 

 Thofe foreigners of diflindion, who purchafe 

 Englifti horfes, and wilh to keep them in the 

 fuperior ftyle of this country, ought, at all 

 events, to retain an Enghfh groom. 



I proceed to the various duties of tlie 

 GROOM and horse-keeper ; by the latter 

 term, we intend him who looks after cart- 

 horfes. In regular racing and hunting ilablcs, of 

 courfe, a lad is required to every horfe ; in a 

 common way, a groom will take care of two 

 hacks or hunters; as to cart-horfes, the neg- 

 lect of which is but too general, as has been 

 already dated, the labour of one man to four of 



VOL. II. £ them 



