16 THE ECONOMY OF THE STABLE. 



cnn be obtained should be given. It is usual not to limit the horse 

 in hay ; but leave that part of his diet entirely to the discretion 

 of the ostlei', who takes care to keep the rack full. If a horse 

 travels every day from ten to twenty miles, one peck and a half 

 of corn will not be too much for him, provided he has only 

 about 8 lbs. of hay, and the less hay he has the better ; for by 

 distending the stomach a morbid appetite is produced, which 

 leads a liorse to eat and drink much more than is proper for 

 him, and this often proceeds to a depraved or voracious appetite, 

 which leads him to eat even his litter. While I was in practice 

 at Exeter, and attended the horses of commercial travellers, I 

 met with numerous cases of cough, broken wind, gripes, and 

 other diseases produced by this cause. So common, indeed, is 

 the practice of giving too much hay, that most horses have 

 a greater appetite than in the natural healthy state ; the ca- 

 pacity of the stomach having been increased by frequent dis- 

 tention, and the capacity of the lungs, or wind, not unfrequently 

 proportionably diminished. When a horse comes in from a 

 stage, the feet should be picked out and examined the first thing ; 

 and the common practice of tying up a horse at a stable door 

 for a short time, and washing his legs, is not injurious if the 

 horse is cool and has been walked quietly in : but he should 

 never be taken to a river to be washed. The horse should never 

 be put in a hot close stable, however comfortable it may appear ; 

 nor is a dark stable desirable, unless a horse is very tired, and 

 then, perhaps, he lies down more readily. When there is no 

 work for a horse, he should alwavs be taken out and have one 

 hour's exercise, at least, early in the morning; he may then have 

 his full feed without injury, and be perfectly fit for the work he 

 is wanted for ; but when this cannot be done, especially for two 

 or three days, he should have less corn and some cold mashes. 

 These few hints will, perhaps, be acceptable to the young 

 traveller ; and if any disease or accident happens during the 

 journey, he will find it noticed in this volume. 



