THE BARB AND THE BRIDLE. 155 



off in two months, with due regard to the preservation of proper 

 quality and muscular fibre. While, on the other hand, I believe 

 that, although by keeping your horse up all the year round you 

 will bring him out in rare form in November, yet still he will not 

 last yon so long as one that has had fair play given to his lungs by 

 a few weeks' run when the spring grass is about ; for, however good 

 the sanitary arrangements of our modern stables and the ventilation 

 of boxes may be, the air breathed in them cannot be so pure as that 

 of a fresh green meadow. Men and women require a change of air 

 once a year at least, and everybody who can afford it looks forward 

 with pleasurable anticipation to their autumn holiday. Why should 

 the noble animal who has carried us so well and so staunchly through 

 many a hard run be denied his relaxation and his change of air in 

 the spring ? 



As a substitute for turning horses out for a brief run in the spring, 

 it is customary in some stables to cut grass and give it, varied by 

 vetches and clover, to the horse in his box. These salutary altera- 

 tives are good in themselves, but there is still wanting the glorious 

 fresh air of the open paddock, which, when all nature is awaken- 

 ing from the long slumber of winter, is so renovating to the equine 

 system. 



It is best to fetch your horse up at night, because it is in the 

 night when turned out that he eats the most ; but the object of 

 giving the animal his liberty is not that he may blow himself out 

 with grass, but that, in addition to the purifying effect to the blood 

 of spring herbage, he shall also breathe the spring air unadulterated. 

 If this is carried out, I believe those who practise it will find that 

 their hunters will last them many years longer than those that are 

 kept at what may be called " high stable pressure " all the year 

 round. 



Prejudice, however, is strong as regards the foregoing matter, as 

 in others connected with the stable treatment and general handling 

 of horses. People are far too apt to go into extremes and adopt a 

 line of treatment because it is in vogue with some neighbour or 

 friend who is supposed to be well up on the subject, and must there- 

 fore be right in everytliing he does. The best way, I submit, is to 



