ON TRAINING GROUNDS. 183 



the surface of it perfectly flat. Hard ground has cer- 

 tainly its inconveniences, I allow ; but as far as my 

 own observations have gone on this subject, it is not 

 the hardness of the ground which so frequently injures 

 the horse's legs, but it is the uneven surface of it, 

 that so often occasions horses to break down, as it 

 is termed, on their fore legs, — I mean, the sideland 

 uneven parts of ground, such as small mole hills, or 

 in crossing small cart ruts, which scarcely appear of 

 any consequence. Should a craving strong horse 

 going along in his sweat, loaded with sweaters, and 

 perhaps a pretty big boy up to get him along at 

 the pace, having a long way to come in his sweat, 

 and being a little weary — should such a horse under 

 these circumstances, put his foot on any such uneven 

 surface as I have described, he suddenly and un- 

 avoidably throws a very unequal portion of his weight 

 on the main tendon, or on some of the ligaments of the 

 leg or joint. This might so injure the leg of a horse of 

 a strong constitution, as to render him incapable 

 of undergoing the training necessary to bring him 

 to post in his proper form. 



I remember some years ago a mare being ordered to 

 go over the sweating ground, merely to keep the 

 length in her. She had a light boy up, and nothing 

 upon her but a quarter-piece and hood ; the ground 

 at the time was in good order, that is to say, it was 

 rather soft than otherwise. The mare was easily held, 

 and went over the ground in her usual stride, at a fair 

 and even pace ; on pulling up, she was lame, both her 



