THE BAEB AND THE BRIDLE. 157 



the use of it another ; and as there has been considerable discussion 

 of late as to the cost of feeding a horse, I beg to say that on a fair 

 average those even in training, requiring the best food, can be kept, 

 when oats are 32s. or 33s. a quarter, for 15s. a week. I speak of 

 course of the absolute cost of forage of the best kind. 



Where horses are delicate feeders, and this is the case with some 

 who are rare performers in the field, the appetite should be coaxed, 

 by giving small quantities of food at short intervals, making the 

 horse, in fact, an exception to the ordinary stable rule of feeding 

 four times a day. A really good groom wUl carefully watch the 

 peculiarities of such a horse as regards feeding, and come in due 

 course to know what suits the animal, the result being plenty of 

 good muscle, equal to that of more hearty "doers." But stimulat- 

 ing drugs, I repeat, should never be permitted. Carrots as an 

 alterative are good, but they should be given only when ordered 

 by a veterinary surgeon, in such quantities as he orders. They 

 should be put in the manger whole, never cut up, as there is nothing 

 more dangerous than the latter practice in feeding, because numerous 

 instances are on record of horses choking themselves with pieces of 

 carrot. 



When hunting time approaches, a little more steam as regards 

 pace at exercise may be put on. Trotting up hills of easy ascent 

 serves materially to " open the pipes," and, despite a very general 

 prejudice to the contrary, I maintain that, for some weeks before 

 hunting commences, a horse is all the better for a steady canter of 

 moderate length every morning. A very good reason why stud 

 grooms as a rule object to this is, simply because it involves a 

 great deal more work in the stable. 



If horses are only walked or trotted at exercise, one man 

 generally can manage very well to e:^ercise two horses, riding one, 

 and leading the other with a dumb jockey or bearing reins on him ; 

 but, if the horse is to be cantered, there must be a man or boy to 

 every horse, and, consequently, exercise would occupy considerably 

 more time. 



It is quite clear that the horse will have to gallop when hunting 

 begins, and, as all training should be inductive, it is absurd to 



