ig2 ON RUNNING HORSES 



mile to a mile and a quarter ; of the fweat, from 

 four to five miles. 



A concife account of the cxercife and diet of 

 fporting horfes, has been already given in a 

 preceding Chapter ; the training of the race- 

 horfe mull of necefTity be the moil regular and 

 efficacious, on account of the fuperior fudden 

 exertions required of him : hence the cuftom of 

 fweating, either once in ten days, weekly, or 

 ftill oftner, according to the hardnefs of car- 

 cafe, and propenfion to obefity in the horfe. 

 The adipofe or fatty fubftance of the body, 

 being inert, and weight to be carried, rather 

 than contributory to aftion, mull neceffarily, in 

 this cafe, be diffipated, and kept under by work. 

 The method of sweating a race-horfe, is to 

 load him with a double or triple quantity of 

 clothes, and to run him four or five miles upon 

 the turf, keeping him in general to a long fteady 

 gallop, or his rate, but making occafional burfts 

 of fpeed, which have the effeft of accelerating 

 the difcharge of perfpirable matter. After this 

 operation, the horfe is taken within doors, and 

 gradually uncovered, whilfi the fvv\eat is fcraped 

 from all parts of his body with an edged wooden 

 inftrument ; when, being rubbed perfe6lly dry, 

 his accuftomed' clothing is replaced. Sweating 

 is performed in the morning, earlier or later, 

 according to the judgment of the groom, 

 • Now for the familiar day, or rather year, of 



^ i the 



