220 KINGSCLERE 



here that I find it laid down in William Days " Race- 

 horse in Training " — an excellent work, with much 

 of which I entirely agree — that "the water that is 

 given the horses to drink should have the chill taken 

 off to prevent griping, when it can be safely given 

 ad libittitn" I am opposed to this practice, because 

 I think that water of the natural temperature is better 

 for the animal than water artificially dealt with. The 

 boy gives the horse his water and afterwards a little 

 hay. He then washes the horse's feet, sponges down 

 his legs, and rubs the latter thoroughly dry. Saddle 

 and clothing are now removed, and he sets to work 

 to dress the body. When that operation is com- 

 pleted, the trainer is informed that the lot is ready 

 for his inspection, and he proceeds to carefully look 

 them over, one by one, to thoroughly examine them, 

 handling their legs and feet and otherwise ascertain- 

 ing by the minutest observation that no harm has 

 come to any of them from the morning's work. The 

 rug and roller are put on, and the horse is " set fair" 

 — that is to say, his bedding (which should consist of 

 the best wheat straw and plenty of it) is placed 

 under him. The stable is swept out, stalls and 

 boxes dusted down, and the mangers cleaned. The 

 horse is then fed, the feed consisting of oats of the 

 very best, a few beans or peas, with some cut hay as 

 chaff, this last-named ingredient being necessary to the 

 mixture to aid mastication. A small quantity of fresh 

 hay, which should be the very best upland meadow, is 

 also given to him. This part of his treatment should 

 be finished before twelve o'clock. The horse is 



