GROOMS AND BOYS. 219 



published a very useful work (as far as I am capable 

 of judging of its merits), on the nature and treatment 

 of the various diseases to which the horse is liable ; 

 and he has also laid down v»diat he calls "principles" 

 for getting horses into racing, or other condition. 



Digressing a little from the present subject, I will, 

 with all due submission to this author's judgment, take 

 the liberty of quoting a passage or two from his work, 

 on "condition,''' merely to see how far his pi'inciples 

 can practically be carried into effect, in the training of 

 race-horses, since it appears to me, that were they to be 

 put into practice without being more fully explained, 

 they would be likely to lead those who adopted them 

 into error; and this it is which has induced me to make 

 my remarks on this subject, and not, by any means, 

 with the desire of detracting from the merit of the 

 author. 



In the first volume of the work (page 227) the 

 author defines the word condition. In page 248 of the 

 same volume, he says — 



" When, therefore, we undertake to get a horse into 

 condition, it is necessary first to enquire for what kind 

 of labour he is designed ; whether it be for the turf, 

 the chace, or the road. A horse, provided he is in 

 health, may have his condition and wind brought to 

 the highest state of perfection it is capable of, merely 

 by judicious management, in respect to feeding, exer- 

 cise, and grooming; and notwithstanding the great 

 mystery and secrecy affected by those who make 

 a business of training race-horses, I will venture to 



