472 The Book of the Horse. 



with as much bran as will bring it to the proper damp condition of a mash, covered with a 

 cloth, and left until it is quite or nearly cold, according as each horse prefers it. The object 

 of adding the oats is to give it an appetising flavour which will tempt many horses that 

 refuse a plain bran mash. A little salt, or for a sick horse treacle sugar, may be added with 

 advantage. 



In the last generation the practice of bleeding and physicking man and beast on the 

 slightest or without any e.xcuse was universal. The purging mania still prevails in some 

 stables, as well as that of giving mysterious balls, condition balls, urine balls, and putting 

 nitre and other nasty messes in the horses' water. 



Nothing of the kind should ever be permitted, except on competent medical advice. Scores 

 of horses are still killed every year through the quackery of grooms and uneducated farriers. 



On the point of forbidding bleeding and physicking the master should be peremptory, 

 whether he himself understands anything about horses or not. 



" If a hunter doing five hours' exercise daily cannot eat five quarterns of mi.Ked oats and 

 beans, with a mash every Wednesday and Saturday, he should be turned out of the hunting 

 to the hack or harness stable. The horse that cannot eat cannot work without becoming 

 weak, and a weak hunter is useless, 



"Of water there should be no limit. A large consumption of water is a sign of health." 

 Water should be pure, in clean receptacles, not too cold, and not, on the other hand, allowed 

 to stand in the stable to attract its impurities. A handful of hay, or a little bran or meal, will 

 take the chill off water better than anything else. Warm water disgusts most horses; others will 

 empty the pail of nearly hot water brought to wash them. The groom's panacea of nitre in 

 water, and all farrier's messes, are to be sternly rejected. " If a horse roars he wants more, 

 not less water. He should have water always by him, and a little drink whenveer there is 

 a chance in the hunting-field." This is exactly the reverse of the ordinary ignorant 

 practice. 



Colonel Fitzwygram* recommends that hunters should be driven as pairs in light carriages 

 during the summer. Leaders in four-in-hands would do as well, as leaders do none of the 

 serious work of stopping, backing, and starting a coach. Some persons summer hunters on 

 tan, in boxes, with cut green food, and never have them dressed, but this must be a great 

 mistake. 



Dick Christian's ideas on the subject, as compressed in the following extracts, were those 

 of a practical n a i, but they applied to j-oung horses in their first season : — - 



" Begin with plenty of walking exercise, three or four hours every day, divided into at 

 least two rides, and never make him sweat. The hay must be last year's, the very best, but 

 with a horse fresh from grass you may begin with mow-hay, i.e., hay of that summer ; gradually 

 increase the quantity of oats, beginning with one peck a day. The best e.xercise-ground is 

 up-hill for improving the wind, and over ridge and furrow for action. Without action the 

 best-looking horse is like a pump without a handle. After the first week the walk may be 

 exchanged every hour for a quarter of an hour's slow trotting, which may be gradually increased 

 to half an hour — but not too much of it. The less you gallop hunters the better, if they are 

 in hard condition and fresh on their legs ; with racehorses it is quite a different thing. No 

 hunters should be galloped so hard as to find out their best paces until they are put to the 

 test in the hunting-field. Many good horses are spoiled by such tricks." 



• " Lcctiiics on Stable Management," by Colonel Filzwygrani. 



