51 



CONDITION OF HORSES. 

 Coiulition is, properly speaking, nothing more tluiji 

 the appearances that denote perfect or imperfect 

 health. When a horse is in perfect health, he is in 

 perfect conditwn; and, on the contrary, ^vlien a horse 

 is in any respect out of heaitli, he is, to speak correctly, 

 out of condition: that is, in ?i conditivn that neither 

 fits him for perfect service to his om ner, nor for per- 

 fect comfort to liimself. But CGuditlon is used witli 

 a latitude of expression e:;ceotling tliis ; and \vheu 

 technically applied, as it usually is, it is more com- 

 prehensive but less correct in its signiMtation. Thus 

 a farmer rides a horse to market in full vigour ; but, 

 perhaps, from constant exercise, lie is not full of fiesh, 

 and probably, from being exposed to tlie air, lie mr.y 

 have a very rough coat. This horse, in the general 

 acceptation of the xvord, would not be said to be in 

 condiiion; and though he may be in a state to do 

 every thing a rider might require, yet, if he passes in 

 this state into the hands of a dealer, he must mdve 

 some material alterations in the liorse before he pro- 

 nounces him in condition, or expects to sell him a^ 

 such. It would be, therefore, best always to consider 

 eondiiion under t^vo distinct views. First, as when it 

 applies to the alteration of the condition of a horse who 

 labours under, or who has laboured under, any ma- 

 lady ; or when it relates merely to that alteration in 

 appearance (supposing a horse in perfect health both 

 liefore Rud after the alteration) which makes the ani- 



' mal come up to the standard, or to be pronounced 

 technically in condition. Condition, m this sense, 



, consists of a sleek coat ; a plumpness and fulness of 

 muscle, without much adipose membrane intervening, 



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