" FEELING is" (NOT ALWAYS) THE NAKED TRUTH. 353 



proof that the horse is at his best, or that he might 

 not be better; the trainer of him can only judge of 

 that. 



We will take the thing in another point of view ; 

 and suppose we were shown a horse under the same 

 circumstances as the one lately alluded to, and we found 

 him with scarcely a bit on him, a staring coat, and feel- 

 ing soft and loose, we might safely say he did not meet 

 our wishes, or, in fact, look or feel like a horse fit to 

 come to the post ; we should, however, be extremely 

 premature in our opinion if we pronounced he was 

 not so. Most horses are to be got to be well, and 

 look well, by change of treatment till they are so; 

 but not all horses. There are some that by no 

 treatment ever yet adopted can be made to feel or 

 look well, but may still be at their best, and fit to 

 run. I can never consider a horse, in such a state, 

 as fit as he would be if he both felt and looked 

 better ; but if, when only doing such work as is 

 necessary to bring him sufficiently stout and clear in 

 his wind to race, he will look like a hunted devil, so 

 he must look ; and if he is found to run like one, it 

 will show that the trainer had done his duty by him. 



There are other horses that will keep high in flesh, 

 let a trainer do all he can judiciously do to get it off : 

 it would be as improper to pronounce such a horse as 

 not in his best form, as in the case of the scarecrow- 

 looking one. This seemingly fat horse (as we will 

 call him) may be as clear as a bell in his wind, and 

 may have no more fat in his inside than an India- 

 rubber bottle ; in fact, if he had, he could not be 

 clear in his wind. What may to the eye look like fat 

 with a horse in this state, if he feels well, is pure 

 muscle. To reduce which, so as to bring him to the 



VOL. II. A A 



