CHAPTEE III. 



WORK IN THE STABLE. 



Upon this subject much might be said, which to 

 many of my readers would appear like an at- 

 tempt to teach grandmother to suck eggs. Yet, 

 as the able critic of the Field pointed out, in 

 reviewing my First Edition, that how to work 

 and do so in a proper manner, might with ad- 

 vantage form a chapter for the instruction of 

 young men, giving a brief outline of work as 

 done in any good stable in Leicestershire is the 

 subject of this Chapter, and young men in any 

 sphere of life would do well always to keep in 

 mind the words of George Herbert : — 



" Pitch tliy behaviour low, thy projects high, 

 So shalt thou humble and magnanimous be ; 

 Sink not in spirit : Who aimeth at the sky 



Shoots higher much than him who means a tree." 



The most important point in stable management 

 is early rising. No man with horses under his 

 care should be later in the stable than six o'clock 

 in the morning. The first thing a good groom 

 will do is to go round all the horses, and see that 

 they are well, then carefully sweep the mangers 

 of all dirt, stones, etc., that may have been in the 

 hay or oats [Irish oats are often fall of stones)^ 

 then give the horse its morning meal, which 



