100 TREATMENT OF HORSES 



many of them are lying by idle. Therefore, 

 unless horses could be broken of their incon- 

 venient and objectionable habits, by going thus 

 early to the stables in winter mornings, I think 

 it is a pity to disturb them at such unseason- 

 able hours; for most of them that were not 

 tricky were found lying down resting themselves, 

 which is the very thing they ought to do, until 

 five or six o'clock in the morning; for, be it re- 

 membered, this is the season of the year that 

 race horses are allowed to rest, and enjoy them- 

 selves. But if it should still be thought neces- 

 sary to divide the time of feeding and dress- 

 ing, with a view to employ or amuse them, 

 perhaps the better way would be, instead of 

 shutting up the stables at eight o'clock at night, 

 to shut them up at nine, and open them again 

 in the morning at five, that is, should there be 

 any horses in the stables disposed to such 

 habits or tricks as have been noticed; for cer- 

 tain it is, horses will occasionally teach each 

 other bad habits. 



But to return from this digression to the 

 month of November. In the commencement of 

 this month, the mornings may be somewhat mo- 



