58 ON THE CECONOMY OF TPIE STABLE. 



he mufl, fend his fervant where he can fee good 

 pra6lice, or he will but deceive himfelf. 



The duties of a groom confift in dreffing, 

 dieting, exercifing, and adminillering phyfic. 

 It is in the aggregate of thefe in which confifls 

 the excellence of EngliQi praftice. In Spain, 

 and other parts of the Continent, the horfes of 

 confiderable ftables appear to the eye perfedly 

 well dreft, and their coats in beautiful condi- 

 tion ; but the attention of the grooms is chiefly 

 confined to the exercife of the liable. 



The care of the legs and feet, forms a 

 moft important branch of ftable difcipline. 

 The legs mull be kept perfeclly dry, and fo 

 clean that not a fpeck of dirt be fufiPered' to 

 lodge in any crevice, under the knee, or fetlock, 

 or around the coronet, and withal preferved 

 cool and free from ftiffnefs and inflammation : 

 dirt fuffered to form a lodgment, or v/et re- 

 maining upon the legs in cold weather, will fret 

 the flvin, and caufe cracked heels, mallenders 

 and fallenders, rats-tails, crown fcab, and fuch 

 a train of ftable plagues, as may baffle the moft 

 vigorous efforts during a whole winter. From 

 want of care, the befl fiat-legged horfes, what- 

 ever may be their condition, will foon become 

 greafed; but I have feen round, flefhy-legged 

 cattle, which could never be preferved from it, 

 by the utmoft care of the moft expert grooms, 



and 



