114 ON PHYSIC. 



place, instead of the horse going to the open downs 

 to exercise, he should be taken into a well-fenced pad- 

 dock ; and it may be found needful, on the first day 

 of taking him into it, to buckle on a leading rein to 

 the bit, and either the groom or head lad should lead 

 the horse, with the boy riding him to the paddock. 

 It may also be found requisite to lead such a horse 

 round the paddock during the whole of the time he 

 may be at exercise on the first day, and this should be 

 continued for the first two, or perhaps three days, if 

 it be observed that the horse is much inclined to play 

 and spring about. After the horse comes to walk 

 quietly, unless there can be, in all respects, the most 

 implicit confidence placed in the boy who rides him, 

 it would be advisable for the groom or head lad to re- 

 main in the paddock while the horse is at exercise, as 

 boys are apt to be tricky. Now during the time that 

 the horse is walking in the paddock, his leg, from this 

 sort of exercise, is gaining strength ; and at different 

 opportunities when the horse is in the stable, stripped, 

 and being brushed over, the groom, if he is a good 

 judge, makes his observations on the state of the 

 horse's condition. He, in a way peculiar to himself, 

 not only looks him over very minutely, but handles 

 and feels him over in every part where he is likely to 

 put up flesh ; and if he finds from the rest the horse 

 has had, that he has gained a certain portion of flesh, 

 the groom, being aware that the leg is in too delicate 

 a state to put the horse immediately into strong work, 

 considers the best thing to be done is to give him an- 



