240 FAULTS INSEPARABLE FROM STABLES. 



Terror, once generated in the equine brain, is never removed, until 

 years of misery have ruined the health and destroyed the spirit of the 

 horse; rendering it a mere suffering machine, careless of the present 

 and hopeless for the future. The weight of affliction which nearly all 

 of the unhappy race have to sustain, as age increases, changes the tem- 

 per and the bearing of the creature. Its prostrated existence seems 

 almost to have become indifferent to human malice. Mankind would, 

 certainly, not be the less happy could they be induced to trust in the 

 goodness which their Heavenly Father has placed around them ; would 

 they discard those doubts and abandon that defiance which implies a 

 belief only in the existence of evil. 



With regard to the subject on which recent comments have been 

 based, horsemen should order their servants never to walk through a 

 doorway by the side of the quadruped, which general belief supposes to 

 be led through such openings. 



A boy should not be employed in such an office. Prior to leaving 

 the building, the groom should place himself directly in front of his 

 charge. A short hold of either rem should then be taken in each hand. 

 "When there located, he can with ease and certainty guide the head of 

 the horse. The motions of the head regulate the movements of the 

 body, and having the controlling power entirely at his command, the 

 servant should commence to back slowly out of the stable. However, 

 there is one objection to the proposed method, which is the rightful 

 mode of proceeding. In the majority of London stables there is but 

 one man, who acts as groom, as coachman, and occasionally as pad 

 groom, or the servant who rides after his employer. This personage 

 being in front of the creature's nose, should the horse sneeze, cough, 

 or clear its nostrils, any ejected matter must alight upon the highly- 

 decorated garments of the man. The self-love of the individual fears 

 such a mishap to the luster of his afternoon's costume ; when the inter- 

 ests of the proprietor are opposed to the vanity of ignorance, no spirit 

 of prophecy is needed to pronounce on which side victory will be de- 

 clared ! These accidents may be greatly mitigated by the hat being 

 laid aside, as from all else the soil may be removed, and leave no stain 

 behind. 



Supposing this obvious recommendation to be adopted, should any 

 symptom of alarm or any disposition to display restiveness chance to be 

 exhibited, progress must be immediately stopped; nor ought it to be 

 again resumed, until the animal has thoroughly recovered its composure. 

 No matter how long a period may be required to restore tranquiUity, the 

 groom should, contentedly, continue stationary till every sign of timidity 

 is banished or dispelled. In such a manner, servant and quadruped 



