108 UNREASONABLE PRACTICES. 



a long coat must never be suffered to exist for an in- 

 stant on the hunter. If he meets with a shower of 

 rain going to cover, he will remain wet until a sharp 

 gallop dries him by evaporation. He then sweats, 

 and will remain wet, dirty, chilly, and miserable during 

 the rest of the day ; and it is at least twenty to one 

 that he is found not more than three-parts dry at six 

 o'clock next morning. During which time, active 

 evaporation must have been going on, which will leave 

 him as flat as dishwater. This treatment is only killing 

 the horse by inches ; is an injustice to the groom, and 

 a disgrace to the master. It is truly strange that 

 masters can be found in these days so short-sighted, 

 prejudiced, and ignorant, as to prohibit clipping and 

 singeing in their stables. 



All of a piece with this is the practice of hunting 

 horses from the grass field, in which a long shaggy 

 coat is necessary. I was once induced to try this prac- 

 tice, and the result was that the subject of the experi- 

 ment a very hardy excellent horse was sacrificed on 

 the altar of foolish credulity. 



He always got beat after going well over -about a 

 dozen fields, and turned roarer, and went blind to boot! 

 Yet this system was recommended to me as healthful 

 and economical by its votaries. 



Every system, however absurd and unreasonable, 

 will always have its apologists. And whenever ' Mr. 

 So-and-so always does it, and finds it answer,' is brought 

 forward in the place of argument to support a system, 

 depend upon it there is rottenness at its foundation. 



