SPONGIKG THE MOUTH. 373 



race may not only be lost, but serious injury arise from 

 pushing the animal to do, or try to do, more than he can. 



I have spoken of the plan of giving horses water after 

 their work, by small quantities at a time, while they are 

 walking. In signifying my custom of following another 

 plan, I do not decry this entirely, but would follow it 

 under certain circumstances, as when delicate horses would 

 drink better than if we waited till the expiration of the 

 walk. Horses may be very much fatigued after a hard 

 race, and require something to support them while they 

 are taking their walk, which should always be given till 

 the tumult in the blood wholly, or at least partially, sub- 

 sides. A few swallows of water are very refreshing, but not 

 so good as the same quantity of oatmeal gruel; or, should 

 a horse be washy, I would use wheat flour, which affords 

 nourishment as well as refreshment. We often see a great 

 deal of fuss made sponging and washing a horse's mouth 

 and nostrils after the scoring has commenced. Some 

 grooms pride themselves on the dexterity with which they 

 handle the sponge and bucket, and many a greenhorn 

 watches the process with a good deal of awe, considering 

 it has much to do with the horse's going fast. On a very 

 hot day, and when the track is dusty, it is essential to keep 

 the niouth from parching, and to remove the dust from the 

 nostrils. When these are accomplished, further swash- 

 ings are unnecessary ; and what is needless is wrong. 



We will go to the stable, and as you are getting along 

 so well, I think it may be two weeks before I am here 

 again. The difference you should observe in sweating the 

 Falcon to-morrow from what we practiced with Never 

 Mind, is, that you can give him two miles more work, and 

 you need not keep up the flow as long as we did with the 

 other. The pace may be a little faster and the clothing 

 the same. Jane can be treated the same, using every 

 precaution to preserve the tranquillity of her temper.. The 



