ON THE STA1$LES, ETC. 65 



box to the stall where the sick horse stands, removing 

 him into the box. This, in case of emergency, might 

 certainly be done, if the horses changed belonged to 

 the same person, or to two different persons, provided 

 they were confederates ; but it must not otherwise be 

 attempted, for reasons which I made no doubt the 

 reader will discover as he proceeds. 



Good training grooms are, in all respects, parti- 

 cularly careful of the race-horses entrusted to their 

 care, and are very cautious as to their health, being 

 fully aware of the consequences that must naturally 

 arise from any of them being ill. They take every 

 precaution they can to prevent them from taking cold, 

 and one of these precautions is, that no horse in train- 

 ing is allowed to be shod out of the stable in which he 

 is accustomed to stand. This intentionally is very good, 

 and in some few instances, it cannot be well avoided ; 

 but, as I shall presently show, such objections exist, 

 as induce me to recommend the discontinuance of the 

 general practice. 



It is the custom with training grooms, the day pre- 

 vious to any horse's being shod, to send to the neigh- 

 bouring smith and order him to attend (perhaps at the 

 afternoon stables) to take measure, and make the shoes 

 for the horse that is to be shod. Early on the follow- 

 ing morning, it is usual for the groom to leave the 

 horse in, or if he takes him out with the other horses, 

 to arrange his work so as to send him in an hour 

 earlier than the rest, that his shoes may be put on and 

 the stables shut up at one time. 



F 



