coxDiTioNiNO.] :MODEli]S' VETEEINAEY PliACTICE. [conuitionino. 



a bit of Imy before Inm, wliisp his legs, for tlieso 

 ought always to be the first and last things 

 attended to, and particularly after physic; 

 then strip his clothing half off ; that is, to about 

 the middle of the back, and give the fore-quar- 

 ters a good thorough dressing. This being 

 done, get dry clothing, and place on the parts 

 cleaned, slip off the exercising cloths, and dress 

 well his hind-quarters. This being done, re- 

 move the clothing from his fore-quarters, and 

 brush him well over, agreeably to the manner 

 we have before directed. After this, give his 

 feed of oats, being double the quantity, or 

 nearly so, to what was given before going out ; 

 then having whisped his legs as the last thing, 

 shake up his litter, and set the stable fair ; if he 

 has cleaned the rack of the hay — for it is best 

 to give but little at a time, that he may eat it 

 with better appetite — you may give a bit 

 more, if you think it necessary, but never give 

 more than he ivill clear ivith a good appetite. 



Having been up at the stable and out at 

 exercise since five o'clock at this season of the 

 year, it will now be high time to breakfast. 

 Leave, therefore, the hunters on the rack- 

 rein, while you are discussing your morning 

 repast, and they will finish their hay. 



On returning to the stable, observe that all 

 have cleared their racks. If they have had 

 sufficient time, and the racks not clear, take 

 the hay away, loosen the rack-reins, put on the 

 muzzles, and leave them for three hours quiet, 

 that they may lie down if they are so disposed. 

 It is a desirable thing for horses to rest their 

 legs at all convenient opportunities. 



This will bring you to what is termed middle 

 day, or it may be one o'clock; for, as the days 

 at this season are beginning to get shorter, you 

 must be at the stable as punctual as the clock, 

 so that you may contrive to be at home from 

 exercise before dark. Tou should proceed 

 now, in like manner, as in the morning, putting 

 on the rack-rein, giving them a mouthful of 

 hay, and a feed of oats in moderation ; for they 

 are not to be tilled or incumbered with food, 

 particularly hay, when they are going to be 

 taken out. "While the horses are feeding, clear 

 the dung from behind them, as in the morning ; 

 then strip and brush them over previous to 

 putting on their exercising cloths and saddles, 

 and take them out, as in the morning. If you 

 are situated in a country that nft'ords a variety { 



of suitabh; places for exercise, vary these as 

 often as convenient. This will bo the inoro 

 agreeable to both horse and man. Keep oft" 

 the gravel roads, choosing to go on the turf as 

 much as possible. Having been out about two 

 hours, in which time you have given the iiorses 

 two gentle breathings, let them have water, 

 and return. 



The stable, as before, in your absence, should 

 be cleared of all wet litter, and aired and re- 

 freshed against your return. After giving the 

 horses the opportunity to stale, bring them into 

 the stable, and repeat the rubbing of their loo's, 

 thoroughly dressing them, having, at the same 

 time, given them a mouthful of hay to amuse 

 them. After dressing, give them a feed of oats, 

 and a bit more hay, if they have cleared the 

 rack of what they had at coining in. This will 

 bring you to about five o'clock in the afternoon, 

 at which time you may leave them on the 

 rack-rein to eat their hay ; and between seven 

 and eight return to finish up for the night. If 

 a sufficienc}'' was given them at leaving stable 

 at five o'clock, they will need no more, the 

 horses having had three hours to take their 

 hay. If a horse is a slow feeder, he ought to have 

 cleared his rack by this time; and such horses as 

 have not done this, should have it taken from 

 them ; for the horse that is glutted with hay 

 will not have any appetite for it ; and as it is 

 always standing by him, you should be mindful 

 not to give too much, so as to occasion him 

 to leave any. Tou have now to feed with oats 

 for the last feed ; see that all their cloths are 

 put on right, not atwist, but smooth, and with- 

 out a wrinkle about them, and that every horse 

 finishes his corn, not leaving any; then loosen 

 the rack-rein, put on the muzzle, and make up 

 a good bed. Having plenty of dry litter, and 

 a large stall to lay his legs out at full length, 

 leave him for the night. 



This is the daily duty of the hunting stable, 

 without any material difference, except on the 

 days appropriated for sweating, whic!: must be, 

 at least, two in the week, till the imnting com- 

 mences. When this takes place, and if the 

 horse be hunted twice in the week, there will 

 be no occasion for sweating exercise. 



We would not recommend hunters to be 

 kept over-warm with cloths. They are Ire- 

 quently exposed to cold and wet ; and the more 

 tender thev are kept, the more likely they are 



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