OEOOMIXG.] 



MODERN VETEEINAKY IMiACTICE. 



[exkucise. 



purpose you should go down on both knees, 

 pass the whisp over the logs and tendons, 

 then finish with passing the hands down in 

 like manner, to feel that tliey are perfectly 

 smooth, and that there are no particles of the 

 straw or thistles, which might be among it, 

 adhering or sticking to the hair. These rub- 

 bings will increase the circulation, and, conse- 

 quently, will promote the absorption of any 

 fluid which may be detained in those parts, 

 and whicli, too frequently, occasions swelled 

 legs ; and, if neglected, the heels may crack, 

 and produce grease, which, with a little extra 

 trouble, may, at all times, be prevented. 



The morning's business of the stable being 

 thus completed, the horse will require nothing 

 until noon. 



Before proceeding further, we will show the 

 reasons for feeding the hackney, which is not 

 to be fed in the same manner as you would a 

 hunter that has extraordinary work to do ; yet 

 a hackney should be always in a condition to be 

 able to perform ordinary work with ease to 

 himself and comfort to his rider. 



Moderate exercise for a good hackney is 

 about thirty or forty miles an end, without 

 drawing bit, at the rate of from eight to ten 

 miles an hour. This may be called ordinary 

 work : but to gallop twenty miles, or trot six- 

 teen in an hour, extraordinary work, which, to 

 accomplish, requires a horse to be put through 

 a regular mode of training. 



But to return. At noon give him the like 

 quantity of hay as in the morning, and his feed 

 of corn ; set the stable fair ; that is, put the 

 htter to rights and remove the dung. This is 

 all that is necessary till watering-time, which 

 is about four o'clock, when the horse should be 

 stripped and brushed. 



There are some lads who can hardly be per- 

 suaded of the necessity for this, alleging that 

 they cleaned the animal perfectly well in the 

 mornins:; that he had not been out of the 

 stable, and that the clothing prevented dust 

 from settling on him ; therefore, they cannot 

 conceive the necessity for it ; and many others 

 may be of the same opinion ; but the imper- 

 ceptible perspiration, which is always going on, 

 occasions a scurf, the removal of which greatly 

 relieves the horse. Besides, stripping the 

 cloths off, and brushing him over, greatly re- 

 freshes him, and puts the blood into a freer 

 Q 



circulation. Wipe him down as before, finish- 

 ing with rubbing his legs, which must never bo 

 omitted, combing the mane and tail, &c., then 

 watering. If there is not a probability of the 

 horse going out, let him have a greater quan- 

 tity of water tlian in the monting; and if he 

 be not greedy for water, ho will not drink more 

 than will do him good ; but, if you perceive his 

 belly getting too large, and he appears washy, 

 he must be restricted. Set the stable fair 

 again, and the work is done until the final 

 doing up for the night. 



At about eight o'clock finish for the night 

 by giving him his remaining allowance of hay, 

 which should be double what was given him in 

 the morning, and his remaining feed of corn. 

 Give more abundantly at night, because it will 

 be in so forward a state of digestion in the 

 morning, as not to oppress the wind of the 

 horse when working. This will be a guide 

 how you should vary it upon particular occa- 

 sions, so as to have the animal hi good heart 

 and spirits, but empty, when wanted for expe- 

 ditious purposes. 



The last thing is making up the beds and 

 setting all fair. In making up the beds, con- 

 trive to lay all the worst of the litter in the 

 middle or bottom, where the horse is most 

 likely to spoil it. In throwing down the litter 

 which was placed behind the horse in the 

 morning, reserve the cleanest and driest part 

 to top the bed with, making this up high on 

 each side, and fullest towards the bind quar- 

 ters, that it may be soft and pleasant for him, 

 whichever side he may lay on, as some horses 

 turn frequently in the course of the night. 

 Now throw out all dung, and sweep clean ; see 

 that all the stall-collars are secure, loose cloths 

 taken off, and everything set fan-, and the rou- 

 tine of the stable is finished. 



EXERCISE. 



Exercise is so essential to the horse, that 

 feedin'^ and grooming would be of little use, 

 were it neglected, or altogether omitted. It is 

 admitted, that great numbers of horses are 

 killed or spoiled by being over-worked ; and 

 it may be doubted whether as many are not 

 injured in London for want of work. In the 

 metropolis there are several persons who keep 

 horses, but who are so occupied with business, 

 that they cannot ride them out oftener than 



113 



