50 ON THE CECONOMY OF THE STABLE. 



them, at leaft, is required, to preferve them in 

 decent and heakhy condition. 



The ordinary regular (lable attendance is 

 four times per day; early in the morning, 

 twelve at noon, afternoon, and night. All fad- 

 dle-horfes kept in condition, ftand clothed in a 

 kerfey (heet, and girded with a broad roller, 

 with occaiionally the addition of a quarter- 

 piece; the breaft-plate is fometimes put on 

 when going out to exercife; the hood is ufed 

 to race-horfes only, except in cafe of ficknefs. 

 All horfes, excepting racers, are beft without 

 clothing in the fummer feafon. 



It is a ridiculous cockney praftice, and in- 

 deed produftive of many ill confequences, to 

 oblige a horfe to ftand in the ftable with his 

 belly bound up fo tight, that room is fcarcely 

 left for the performance of the animal funftions, 

 under the idea of '•' getting his guts up." Grant- 

 ing the pretended defign were anfwered, which 

 I could never obferve, the confideration of the 

 probable mifchief ought to outweigh the pre- 

 sumed benefit. Proper exercife or work will 

 ibon draw up the belly : if a horfe in high 

 condition ihould ftill carry a large carcafe, it is 

 a rare fign of ability for bufinefs. A certain 

 friend of mine, once complained that the bel- 

 lies of his horfes were really fo large, that he 

 was afhamed to ride them, notwithftanding the 

 vaft care of his groom, in giving them nitre 



ahd 



