228 EARLY EXERCISE BENEFICIAL. 



colt only got work apportioned to his years, so far 

 from proper exercise (and his work should only be 

 exercise) injuring him, I am quite satisfied he would 

 be in every way better than if allowed to remain in 

 perfect idleness : the muscles and frame altogether 

 become more firm and developed by moderate work. 

 Three or four journeys in a stage coach would per- 

 haps ruin a three-year-old, so might probably a few 

 days' hunting with twelve or thirteen stone on him; 

 but an occasional airing in a light gig, or carrying a 

 light weight for the same purpose, would do him no 

 harm on earth ; and at that age, if he had been pro- 

 perly brought up, he might stand in the place of some 

 other horse for such light purposes. 



Let us reason a little from analogy. We encourage 

 boys of seven or eight years of age to take strong ex- 

 ercise, like to see them play their game at cricket, and 

 of late years gymnastic exercises have been invented, 

 and are recommended to call into play all the sinews 

 and muscles of the youngest boys. We all know 

 that a game at cricket, played as boys play it, is about 

 as hard work as they could be put to ; and gym- 

 nastics try every sinew and muscle to the utmost : 

 yet we see youths thus brought up stronger, more 

 healthy, and more vigorous than those who pass their 

 time without similar strong exertion. Provided such 

 exertion is used, whether it be for our own gratifica- 

 tion or for the advantage of others, so far as it relates 

 to the benefit or injury of the frame, it amounts to 

 the same thing ; so, whether the colt chooses to gallop 

 about a plain to please himself, or is trotted round a 

 lunge to familiarise him to obedience, could make no 

 possible difference to him on the score of work. It may 

 be said, that as boys will voluntarily take strong exer- 



