1 6 The Compkat Horfcffiat?, CHAP. III. 



planks fwhich mull always be kept open to let forth the Urin) 

 do give way to the cold wind, which continually afcendeth up 

 to the horfe, as well lying as Handing, and cannot but do him 

 much damage. 1 do therefore affirm, that if your Groom have . 

 a cai-e to litter his horfe well, fo as he may lye foft and warm, 

 (which is a prime property appertaining to his office) your 

 horfe will thenprolper, and like much better upon a pitched 

 fiore than he can upon a planked ^ provided your flore be laid 

 evea, not higher before than behind, more than fo much that 

 may make the water to avoid his hinder feet,where there ought 

 to be a fmall gutter to caufe it to pafs away j for in railing your 

 flore io much, I do obftrad from the ancient ill cultom, by 

 reafon that a horfe Itandeth higher before than he doth behind, 

 his hinder legs will fvveil, and fo he becometh lame j befides, 

 it giveth him a taint in ti;e buck and kidneys 5 and to conclude, 

 his long ftanding in this unealie manner begetteth in the poor 

 beafl much pain and grief,and this occafioneth unto him (which 

 would nototherwife be) the putting forth of Wind-gals,Pains, 

 Scratches, and fuch like noyfom forances. 



Another thing may peradventure be thought ftrange, which 

 I have handled in the former Chapter, where I intreat of breeds 

 d^l^of *^^ ' ^" ^^^^ ^ would have the time of the Mares foling to be 

 Foling. either in December or January^ this being in the very depth of 

 Winter, as well when the feafon is commonly coldelt, and 

 when little or no grafsis to be had, fo as of necelFity the Mare 

 mull be houfed, and fed with hard meat, whereby her milk 

 will be in fo fmall a proportion, as either to endanger the 

 ftarving of the Colt, or elfe at leaftvvife keep him fopoor and 

 feeble, as not to be able to grow, thrive or profper to any 

 purpofe. Tofatisfie thisfcruple, 1 fay from long experience, 

 that the Winter feafonfor a Mare to fole in, beyond all per- 

 adventure, is the very belt, as well for the Marc as the Colt^ 

 fuppofmg (he be kept in a warm houfe ; and as for her milk. 

 The Colt flie will have great plenty, and that much better and more nou- 

 better rifhing than that milk which the Colt fhall fuck from his Dam 

 nourifhedat grafs ^ fo as thereby the Colt fhall be more lufly, ftrong, 

 jjj^'^'^^l^^^j^ healthy, the greater of boneaEdltature,better able to endure 

 atgrarsinhardinefs, better knit, cleaner limbed, more neatly joynted 

 Winter, and hoofedjandtop hisflelh better than that Colt that is foled 



in 



