52 CONDITION. 



Notwithstanding this warning, Mr. Dixon would run her, and 

 did, and being beaten took her out of training, though she was 

 the soundest mare ahve and had many good engagements that 

 year, and by the next might have had many more. He put 

 her to the stud, where she turned out a complete failure — 

 indeed she did not live many years. 



Now a cough may be innocuous, or it may be fatal. Horses 

 often cough on leaving the stable, and in it, and after galloping' 

 whilst in good health. At the commencement of exercise 

 horses will often cough, but if, after it, they blow their nostrils 

 no ill-effect need be apprehended. From following others in 

 their gallops a horse will get dirt in his mouth and so a cough ; 

 but it quickly passes off. Again, horses will cough after being 

 watered in the stable ; but it does not hurt them. But on the 

 contrary, if horses cough badly in the stable before watering 

 and feeding, or at exercise shortly before galloping, it is a 

 certain warning, not only that they are not well, but that it is 

 not possible to guess the extent of their illness. Something 

 similar, it may be remarked, can be said of lameness. 

 Swollen legs may prove to be of trifling importance, or end 

 in the total uselessness of the horse so afflicted. I have re- 

 marked on this point in an earlier chapter, and also shown the 

 variety of causes which create lameness, sometimes of little 

 and sometimes of the greatest consequence. But as a matter 

 of fact it should be added that nearly all horses trained for 

 long-distance races, trot lame and yet are practically sound. 



It is well to note these things ; for they serve to show 

 how little owners really know of condition, the possible 

 result of lameness, or effect of a cough ; and how greatly 

 to their advantage it would be, if they would listen to the 

 advice of those whose occupation provides them with this 

 information. But there are owners and owners, and a 



