EXERCISE. — TRAINING. 13 



power, and the impenetrable defence attached to his feet, were 

 certainly not given for his own use only. If kept in a stable, 

 without exercise, his muscular power declines, his digestive 

 organs become diseased, and so do the organs of respiration. 

 The hoofs grow, and there is no wear; for the little that may 

 be worn otf, merely by the pressure of his own weight when 

 standing still, is prevented by the shoes. The toe being thus 

 elongated, the back sinews are often strained ; the foot becomes 

 hot and inflamed, its horny covering contracts : the frogs be- 

 come rotten, and incapable of performing the office for which 

 they were designed ; in short, the whole body becomes diseased. 

 Exercise, then, it is evident, is essential to his health, and even 

 existence ; and every part of his structure and economy appear 

 to demonstrate that he was intended for the service of man. 

 His powers, however, are limited, and so should his exertions 

 be: but it is a fact, which must be regretted by all considerate 

 persons, that the immoderate work in which he is often em- 

 ployed, so far from being salutary, or proportionate to his 

 strength, as undoubtedly it was designed by his Creator that it 

 should be, is injurious, and even destructive in a veiy consider- 

 able degree. And what greatly aggravates the mischief is, the 

 early and premature age at which he is commonly employed. 



AVhen a horse is brought in for trainino;, after havins; been 

 kept in the manner described in the preceding chapter, he should 

 be fed with hay and oats ; and if greedy of water or hay, or if 

 he ap})ears inclined to eat his litter, he should be limited in hay 

 and water, and be muzzled the last th'um at niixht. For the 

 first week he should have walkiuo; and gentle trottinix exercise 

 for an hour or two every morning. The stable should be kept 

 clean and cool. The second week his exercise may be increased 

 a little, and so may his oats. Should he appear, however, 

 rather dull, the membrane of his eyes rather red or )'ellow 

 on lifting the eye-lid, and the dung hard, in small knobs, and 

 shining or slimy, it will be advisable to bleed moderately, and 

 give a mild dose of physic, for which he should be prepared by 

 giving two or three bran mashes a day for two days. The 

 fourth week he may be worked moderately, and if wanted for 

 hunting, he should be put into a canter or hand-gallop once a 

 day ; and after this it will be necessary to increase his pace 

 twice or three times a week, so as to make him sweat freely ; 

 taking care that he is walked for some time afterward, that he 

 may become rather cool before he returns to the stable, when 

 he must be well dressed, fed, and Avatered, have a good bed 

 placed under him, and be left to his repose. When a horse has 

 been brought up from rich pasture he is generally loaded with 

 fiit, and requires a great deal of walking exercise and careful 

 feeding. He may be trotted gently, however, after the second 



