166 



atmospheres, pampered appetites, and close con- 

 tinement, cause premature debility and early decay. 



It is impossible now to change the system : 

 horses are too expensive to maintain, to allow the 

 breeder to keep them out of the market, when 

 once they can yield a profitable return ; and there- 

 fore every horse is trained to work before he is five. 

 The only remedy is, in their subsequent manage- 

 ment, to avoid errors that may render them yet 

 more delicate, and on the other hand to guard 

 against any carelessness that is only innoxious to 

 hardy constitutions. 



Almost all stables are found so built as to be 

 liable to the extreme either of warmth or cold. In 

 the country, the last is the common error ; but in 

 London, and all large towns, the mistake is on the 

 other side. The great value of building- ground in 

 towns makes it unavoidable ; but where there is 

 sufficient space, it is unintelligible why so little 

 attention is shown to the construction of the 

 stabUng. Almost every country stable opens di- 

 rectly to the weather, so that in all seasons there 

 is a constant current of cold air poured in plenti' 

 fully upon the cattle, whatever may be their state. 

 I have noticed this fault in some of the best hunt- 

 ing stables, yet the remedy is simple and obvious : 

 the harness-room should be built off, at the entrance 



