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edge, both in the fore and hind shoes, which will at once prevent 

 overreaching and having the fore shoe torn off ; three nails on the 

 outside, and two on the inside. Care should be taken that the crust 

 only, and not the sole of the foot, presses on the shoe. If the sole 

 of the foot is rather concave, it should be stopped with a mixture of 

 cowdung and clay every other night ; but if flat about three times a 

 fortnight is sufficient. The hoof should be daily moistened with 

 oil, which will keep it from becoming brittle, if it has a tendency 

 that way. 



The hunter should not be singed further down the legs than just 

 above the knee and hock, the long hairs below (if any) may be 

 rubbed out by hand, with the help of powdered resin. The hair 

 affords the shins great protection from blows and scratches. 



The evening before hunting the horse should be given no hay, 

 and after his last feed (which should be a good large one) the 

 muzzle should be put on, to prevent him eating his bed. The first 

 thing next morning (five a.m.) he should have his usual feed — no 

 hay — and about half his usual allowance of water. 



The best pace to the meet is a gentle jog-trot (the pace which 

 hounds go to covert), and the same pace home again, whether the 

 day has been severe or not. 



If the horse has been very much exhausted in the run, some 

 warm beer, wine, or spirits given him immediately will generally 

 recover him ; but if given some time after, when reaction has taken 

 place, it would do him much harm. A gulp of water every now and 

 then on his road home refreshes him much ; with a long journey 

 before you, and half an hour to wait, a little gruel is a good thing. 



•'•' On reaching the stable put him in a spare stall, take the bridle 

 off, let his head be free, loose the girths, and throw the outer one 

 down with the stirrups, leathers, and irons ; put some dry straw on 

 the saddleplace, replace the saddle over it, turn the horse round, 

 and then, with warm water and sponge, wash the horse's mouth and 

 face, and, with soft wisp and dry rubber, make his head clean and 

 comfortable, put him to the manger and give a small portion of 

 hay ; then let the rough dirt and sweat be got quickly off the body, 

 leaving the saddle on, which done, throw a rug loosely over the 

 horse, and wash his legs in a pail of warm water over knees and 

 hocks ; then sponge the sheath and thin skin between his thighs, 

 and let the water be got out of the hair by the use of a chamois 

 leather, and when nearly dry put flannel bandages loosely round the 

 legs. At this stage, which will have taken the groom an hour, the 

 horse may drink about three quarts of warm water-gruel. 



