GROOMS AND BOYS. 223 



writings, as a guidance for grooms to get horses 

 into racing condition, are, I think, mucli too laconic. 

 He merely says, " as the horse's allowance is increased, 

 so should his exercise be augmented ;" and by pro- 

 portioning the latter to the nutriment the horse 

 receives from the former, his condition will be brought 

 to the highest state of perfection. 



This, generally speaking, is all very true; and we 

 are well aware, that from whatever cause a horse goes 

 off his feed, his work must be stopped. Nothing can 

 be done with him, in regard to condition, unless he 

 is sound, in perfect health, and takes his usual allow- 

 ance both of food and water. Yet, notwithstanding 

 this, there are a variety of circumstances, under which 

 horses are to be exercised ; and as this is one of the 

 main objects we have to attend to in getting horses 

 into high condition, it is much to be lamented that our 

 author has not been more explicit. In page 254, 

 the author gives something, by way of rules, as to 

 exercise and grooming. In speaking of the former, 

 he tells us, as I have already observed, that walking 

 exercise is most proper ; but after this, it may be gra- 

 dually increased to a trot or a canter, and if the exer- 

 cise occasions any degree of perspiration, the horse 

 should be carefully cleaned, and otherwise attended to 

 as soon as he gets into the stable. 



Now, it is to be observed that there are three sorts 

 of exercise necessary for race-horses that are in 

 training, and that have to run pretty long lengths ; 

 they are to walk, to gallop, and to sweat, as occasion 



