138 ON PHYSIC. 



generally horses of strong constitutions, they require 

 to be kept in pretty strong work, and that, together 

 with their running and travelling, causes many of 

 them, as the season advances, to become more or less 

 stale in their condition, and also stale and round on 

 their legs, notwithstanding the great care and atten- 

 tion which is paid to them. These horses are more 

 liable to be amiss in this respect, when they are the 

 property of country trainers, than when in the pos- 

 session of noblemen and gentlemen of the turf, who 

 have their different motives for keeping them ; some 

 as a part of their establishment, and to preserve 

 a good breed of horses in the country, (their ances- 

 tors having done so before them); those who are 

 fond of racing, for the pleasure and amusement they 

 afford ; and some few others, who, after having had a 

 tolerable share of experience, may, with good fortune, 

 get money by them. Xbis last object is pursued by 

 the country trainer, as his circumstances seldom admit 

 of his keeping a race-horse merely for pleasure. This 

 man makes racing his profession ; and if, by purchase, 

 he should come into possession of a tolerably good 

 country plate horse, he calculates the price he may 

 have given for him, and the expense incurred in his 

 training, and for these, the owner becomes anxious to 

 be remunerated. His object is to win with him all he 

 can ; he therefore enters his horse at the different meet- 

 ings he frequents, whenever he thinks there is a chance 

 of his going up to the head and winning ; and it is in 

 this way, from repeated running and travelling, that 



