OTHER PRACTICES HAPPILY ABANDONED. -j-j 



case might be, and after walking half an hour, the same 

 distance as well as they could go. Mr. Chifney, in his 

 " Genius Genuine," speaks of horses sweating six miles twice 

 a week. For my part, I have never seen it practised more 

 than once a week, nor the distance to exceed four miles : and 

 this is surely enough work for the veriest glutton, considering 

 what was to follow. For on the hottest day, when there was 

 not a breath of air, the sweat streaming continuously for half 

 an hour, the horse would be scraped, wiped dry, and again 

 started to exercise. It should be said, in fairness, that the 

 horses under this severe preparation were as fit to run as any 

 horses can be, or are made in the present day, and looked as 

 well. Yet, in these lenient days, few would like to revert to 

 so extreme a practice, whilst the danger of laming the animals 

 would deter the boldest trainer from its adoption, even though 

 he should think it might be beneficial in some respects. 



It was the invariable custom in summer to water the horses 

 whilst out from a trough near a pond or well, and canter 

 them afterwards ; a custom plainly at variance with common 

 sense, and one I unhesitatingly condemn. The night before 

 the horse was to run, he was kept muzzled to prevent his 

 eating the litter. This is seldom done or needed now. There 

 were other usages — minor matters, it is true — in which the 

 past system differed from the present. I m.ay name one. At 

 the end of the Houghton Meeting (then the recognised con- 

 clusion of the racing season) the horses were, in many cases, 

 turned into a loose box, without exercise, cleaning, or clothing, 

 being only well fed, and left in that state till the following 

 January, when they were physicked and gently put to work — 

 a plan now wisely abandoned ; for the sudden transition from 

 heat to cold, and vice versa, and from galloping one day re- 

 lapsing into a state, of lethargy the next, has caused many to 



