70 HORSEMANSHIP. 



journey, will most readily produce acute inflammation 

 and confirmed lameness. Finally, never trust your 

 horse to the tender mercies of a country smith, but 

 keep a vigilant watch over all his movements. 



Take this opportunity to procure some wheaten 

 flour ; mix it well with lukewarm water, take off the 

 bridle, and let the horse drink from a quarter to half 

 a bucket full. Wheaten flour has the advantage of 

 being more nutritious than oatmeal, and does not 

 irritate an exhausted stomach. Loosen the girths 

 and put the saddle in its proper place. 



The pace homewards must entirely correspond with 

 the distance you have to travel, and the vital powers 

 of the horse. " It is of the greatest importance to get 

 the horse to his own home and stall," but if he be much 

 exhausted, and many miles distant from his own stable, 

 it will be much the better plan to seek the nearest 

 shelter for the night, more especially if the w^eather be 

 broken and the day far spent. The rider must always 

 bear in mind, that the journey homewards, if upon a 

 strange road, is entirely extra work, and without the 

 least excitement to stimulate the horse. During the 

 chase he has undergone Herculean labours with 

 courage and delight ; but the motive to exertion having 



