181 



far this illustration may be found satisfactory, I 

 know not ; but the fact is undoubtedly true, so far 

 as my experience has gone, that my horses have 

 never become " groggy" when shod with leather, 

 though I have never been particularly sparing 

 of work. 



The diet of horses is generally so regular and 

 uniform, that all comment upon it seems super- 

 fluous. So many feeds of oats, a given quantity 

 of water, and a rack of hay morning and evening, 

 are the stated allowance in every stable. It is not, 

 howev^er, quite a matter of course to be left to the 

 discretion of the groom. I very much fear that 

 no rules which can be given, will effectually pre- 

 clude the waste and pilfering of the master's oats ; 

 yet even on this point a little personal attention 

 will prove a better security than is commonly sup- 

 posed. It is necessary to ascertain in the first 

 instance whether the horse is a good feeder or not ; 

 and this is easily done by observing him two or 

 three times ; if he does not feed well, he will not 

 consume more than three feeds a-day, and this will 

 enable us by a little calculation to judge whether 

 the corn-bill is larger than necessary : if he feeds 

 well, four feeds is a fair allow^ance; but I am sorry 

 to say that in far the larger number of livery 

 stables, the bait during the day must be reckoned 



