EXEECISE.l 



THE HOESE, AND 



[exebcisb. 



once in a week, and many don't ride them once 

 in a month. The horses of these persons stand 

 at livery, and they are ordered to be exercised. 

 Men employed in livery stables, have seldom 

 less than six or eight, and we have known 

 some to have ten livery-horses to look after. 

 These men, if they rub off the dung, and occa- 

 sionally give them a brush over, omit exercise, 

 not finding time for it. Gentlemen do not 

 like to see or know that boys are permitted 

 to ride their horses; and, without they keep 

 grooms of their own, their horses will go short 

 of exercise. 



Consider, then, those horses that are kept 

 in a livery-stable from week's end to week's 

 end, in many places confined and filthy ; that 

 are sometimes moved about, which they call 

 exercise, but which is merely a ride of, perhaps, 

 fifty or sixty yards long, in a place made up of 

 litter and dung, with a manure-heap at some 

 part of it. In these cases horses literally 

 breathe only air strongly impregnated with 

 the evaporation of dung. Under such circum- 

 stances, it is surprising that they are so well 

 as they are. The disorders with which they 

 are frequently afilicted in such a condition, are 

 principally couffh, not improperly called a stable 

 cough, also weakness in the legs, so that they 

 often make a drop, as it is termed. Various 

 humorial diseases, such as swelled legs, grease^ 

 farcy, and, in all probability, inflamed lungs 

 and glanders, also, are the result. At their 

 best, when they look plump and well to the 

 eye, they are faint, and what is termed foggy, 

 and unable to perform more than what would 

 be common exercise for horses in condition. 



Since, therefore, exercise and air are so 

 beneficial, let us consider in what manner 

 exercise should be given. This is to be regu- 

 lated according to circumstances. Where 

 animals work two or three days in the week, 

 the resting days require no more than airing 

 exercise, for every horse should have, at least 

 two days in the week, such work or exercise 

 that will give him a good sweating, which 

 throws out, through the pores of the skin, what 

 might lodge in the system and create diseases. 

 It likewise frees the horse of the scurf ad- 

 hering to the skin, and occasions >the coat to 

 look fine. Those days, therefore, that the 

 horse is not wanted for work, he must be 

 exercised for the fresh air which is bracing 

 114 



and strengthening to his limbs, refreshing the 

 body, and creating an appetite. The most 

 eligible time for this is in the early part of the 

 day ; but, in wet weather, the best opportu- 

 nities that appear must be taken advantage of. 

 If but one horse is kept by a gentleman, 

 he should order his groom, as soon as the stable 

 has been cleaned out in the morning, which is 

 while the horse is eating his first feed, to brush 

 him over, and put on his exercising saddle and 

 bridle. In cold weather, if it is only intended 

 to walk him, the cloth or sheet may be kept on 

 him under the saddle. In warm weather, how- 

 ever, we do not recommend this ; for, though a 

 horse's coat may be something the fiuer by 

 being kept warm, yet he is certainly the more 

 liable to take cold when he is necessarily de- 

 prived of it. The most open and airy places 

 should be taken for exercise, during which the 

 step of the horse should try to be improved ; 

 and, when he has only walking exercise, he 

 should at least be walked two hours, which 

 will be sufiicient. By aimiiig to extend his 

 walk, he may be greatly improved. On 

 returning, thoroughly clean him, and give him 

 his feed. He might be watered while out, 

 provided it can conveniently be done. If a 

 horse is hearty, and inclined to flesh, we would 

 rather recommend the like exercise in the 

 afternoon, where persons have time and con- 

 venience, than to shorten his feed for that 

 purpose. It would be much better for the 

 horse ; but every one cannot allow his time to 

 be so taken up, for it would be nearly equal to 

 training, and may not be thought necessary. 

 It is more than the generality of horses require ; 

 and many inferior-bred animals which look well 

 to the eye, cannot, for a continuance, stand the 

 ordinary work that a horse has in training. 

 Such is the amazing dift'erence of horses. If 

 inquiry be made of many training-grooms, 

 concerning some high-bred colt or other, why 

 he is not hrought out, they will answer "he 

 would not stand his training;" though, per- 

 liaps, in numerous cases, training, in the pre- 

 sent day, is screwed up to too tight a pitch. 



Should the work of the horse be so moderate 

 as not to occasion a sweat, it is beneficial, about 

 twice a week, to give exercise strong enough 

 to sweat hiai. This may be done in the pace 

 he is mostly ridden hi, that lie may be prac- 

 tised and improved in it. If he be admired 



