GENERAL MANAGEMENT OF HORSES 25 



months, when they usually become " grass fat," but all 

 this superfluous flesh has to be got rid of by about the 

 end of October, being substituted by hard muscles for 

 soft ones— i.e. by condition. Unquestionably this plan 

 has a beneficial effect upon the joints, tendons, and liga- 

 ments, and improves the general tone of the circulation. 

 Moreover, grass is a necessary aperient and " Dr. Green " 

 will often work wonders. A free supply of water should 

 always be kept handy when horses are turned out to 

 graze, especially if the grass is very dry and the herbage 

 scanty. As opposed to summering horses the " soihng " 

 system is sometimes adopted. It comprises keeping a 

 hunter or a thoroughbred in a roomy loose box during 

 the summer, and feeding it upon green food, along with 

 hay, with little or no corn. It is not to be compared to 

 the summering system in the writer's opinion, there being 

 so many disadvantages. When horses are turned out to 

 graze always remove the hind shoes and be careful to see 

 that the fore shoes are regularly removed, the feet 

 trimmed, and the shoes replaced. 



The Agistment of Horses 



Some owners of grazing pastures make a regular 

 practice of taking horses in for grazing purposes at so 

 much per head per week, the proprietor being known as 

 the Agister. All sorts and conditions of horses are 

 commonly turned out, more especially for the week-end, 

 in places of this kind. To prevent injury to or from other 

 horses the hind shoes should always be removed, but a 

 person who takes in horses does not, like an innkeeper, 

 insure their safety, yet he is obliged to take all reasonable 

 care. The Agister is liable for particular neghgence, i.e. 

 he must make good a horse which is lost or stolen through 

 reasons which he could have prevented. The fences and 

 the gates must be kept in proper order, and nothing must 

 be left about Hable to cause damage to the animals taken 



