140 WALKING EXERCISE. 



This exercise first commences in the morninsr 

 in the stable-yard. The horses should all walk 

 round here, as long as the groom considers it is 

 requisite, which will depend on the season of the 

 year, as also the state or condition the horses 

 may be in. In winter, should the weather be 

 unfavourable, as frost, their principal exercise 

 will daily be here; but in the summer they walk 

 here only for the purpose of allowing the saddles 

 to get settled to their backs, or rather until some 

 of them may have done setting up their backs. 

 But the time they may have to walk here in 

 winter will depend on whether they are in strong 

 work, as being in training; or whether, from in- 

 dulgence, they may have become pretty hearty: 

 if they are in the latter state, they will require 

 a longer time to walk here, to steady them, be- 

 fore they are allowed to be walked out on to the 

 downs: unless these precautions are taken, acci- 

 dents will, as I have already observed, sometimes 

 occur. If horses are in strong work, the walking 

 exercise they have to take in the morning on the 

 downs, previous to taking their gallops, need be 

 but for a very short time; they may walk here 

 in a large circle, merely for the purpose of al- 

 lowing them to stretch their legs and empty 

 themselves, during which time the groom is to 



