Book VIJ. MANAGEMENT OF RIDING HORSES. 1009 



oh his coming into the stable, the following drink is to be given him : Beat up the yokes of three eggs, and 

 put them into a pint and a half of sound ale, made warm ; and let it be given with a horn. After this, he 

 is to be rubbed well down, and the saddle-place rubbed over with warm water and vinegar, and the places 

 where the spurs have touched, with the same ; after this he should have a feed of rye-bread, then a good 

 mash, and at some time after these as much hay and oats as he will eat His legs, after this, should be 

 bathed some time with a mixture of vinegar and water. 



SuBSECT. 2. Management and Working of the Hunter. 



6725. The managing and working of the hunter includes his preparation for hunting, his condition, and 

 his treatment while taking his regular day's work in the field, whether after buck, fox, or hare hounds. 



6726. The preparation of the hunter must, like that of the race horse, be commenced by an estimate of 

 his state and condition. If taken fresh from grass, it should be in due time: first, that he may be well 

 prepared; and next, because the grass does not yield much nutriment in the heat of summer. A still 

 better method is to continue to let him run out in the day and graze, having a shed to house himself from 

 heat and rain. He is also to be fed and exercised, nearly as in the common training, for hunting condition. 

 In this way he is sure to be free from cracks, hide-bound, or surfeit ; and he will prove infinitely more 

 hardy afterwards. It is even the practice with some of the best sportsmen to allow their horses to run out 

 all the hunting season, unless the weather be very severe ; when they are only stabled in a loose placp. 

 They are allowed as much corn as they can eat, and are found, if a little rougher in their coats, infinitely 

 superior in hardihood, and exemption from the dangers of cold. 



6727. A hunter taken from grass or in very low case should be treated as already fully detailed 

 under condition. (6424.) Great care must be taken that all the alterations in heat of stable, clothing, 

 feeding, &c., are gradually brought about ; by which means his flesh will harden gradually, and by using 

 first walking exercise, and increasing it as he advances in flesh and strength, his wind also will become 

 excellent. 



6728. In the physicking of hunters, particularly when they are low in flesh, much caution is requisite 

 that it be not over-done. It is the practice with some, and by no means a bad one, to give no physic ; 

 but to give more time in the preparation. Others, again, give mild grass physic, which is an excellent 

 plan, when the weather is fine. (See Physicking, 6544.) 



6729. The preparation cf a hunter in full flesh and not from grass depends principally on regular 

 exercise, and the best hard food ; physicking him or not, according as he may be suspected to be foul, or 

 as liis wind may seem to want mending; but above all, whatever is done, should be done regularly ; and 

 his exercise should be rather long continued than violent. Oats with beans are the proper hard food for 

 hunters, taking care that the beans do not constipate the bowels ; which must be ooviated by bran mixed 

 with the other food, if such should be the case. Bread is not necessary, but for tender delicate horses ; 

 but every thing should be of the best. 



6730. The day before a horse is to hunt it is common to treat him somewhat diflrerently, but this 

 is seldom necessary. It is evident he should be well fed, and that not late at night, that he may lie down 

 early. Some feed in the morning, which others avoid; but when it is considered, as has been fully ex- 

 plained (6404. J, how ill a horse bears fasting, it will be at once seen, that if very early in the morning, as 

 by five o'clock, he could be fed with a moderate quantity of corn wetted, it would tend to support him 

 through the day. 



6731. On the return qf a tiorse from hunting, the care bestowed on him should be extreme ; as on it 

 depends the immediate recovery of his strength. If he have fasted very long, and particularly if he be 

 disinclined to eat of himself, horn down a pint of ale, with two pints of thick gruel. No prudent sports- 

 man will bring in a horse hot; but if unavoidable accidents prevent this caution, let the horse be again 

 led out for a few minutes, hooded and clothed ; but he must have fresh clothes when afterwards dressed. 

 Encourage him to stale as quickly as possible, after which proceed to hand-rub him all over carefully, 

 pliacing before him a little of the best hay well sprinkled with water. If he refuse this, ofFer him three 

 quarts of very clean chilled water. When perfectly cleaned, let his feet be carefully examined, that 

 stubs have not pierced them, or that his shoes have not been forced awry by over-reaching, or by the 

 suction of clayey ground ; or that thorns be not lodged in his knees, hocks, and sinews. After all these 

 matters have been well attended to, remove him from his stall to a loose box, well bedded up. A loose 

 Iwx is invaluable to a hunter; it gives room for stirring to prevent the swelling of the legs ; and is better 

 than bandaging when it can be avoided, which gives a disinclination to lie down. If the horse be off his 

 food the next day, give him a cordial ball {Fet. Pharm. 6568.) and a malt mash, and afterwards a few cut 

 carrots, which will assist to bring him round more speedily. 



SuBSECT. 3. Working and Management of Biding Horses. 



6732. The working and managing of hackney or riding horses include what is required for them as 

 pleasure horses for ordinary airings ; and what they require when used for purposes of travelling or long 

 journeyings. It embraces also their stable management in general, with the proper care of horse and 

 stable appointments : all which are usually entrusted to a servant, popularly called a grcom, whose quali- 

 fications should be, moderate size, light weight, activity and courage, joined with extreme mildness and 

 good temper; and above all, a natural love of horses, by which every thing required is done as a pleasure 

 for the animal he loves, and not as a task for those he is indifferent to. 



6733. The hackney for gentlemen's airings should be in high condition, because a fine coat is usually 

 thought requisite; and here the groom ought to be diligent that he may keep up this condition by regu- 

 larity and dressing, more than by heat, clothing, and cordials. Whenever his master does not use his 

 horse, he must not fail to exercise him but principally by walking) to keep up his condition, and to keep 

 down useless flesh and swellings of the heels. The horse appointments are to be peculiarly bright and clean. 

 The bridle should be billetted and buckled, that the bits may be removed to clean them without soiling 

 the leather, which cleaning ouglit not to be done with rough materials, but fine powder and polishing. On 

 the return from exercise, they should be wiped dry and then oiled. Two pair of girths should be used, 

 that a clean pair may always be ready, and the same if saddle cloths are used. 



6734. The preparation for, and the care of a horse an, a journey involve many particulars which should 

 not escape the eye of the master. 1 he first is. Is the horse in hard travelling condition ? Next, Do his 

 ajipointments all fit, and are they in proper order ? The bridle for journeying should always be a double 

 curbed one. The snaffle can be ridden with, certainly ; but the snatfle cannot do the work of the curb, 

 in staying a horse, in saving him from the ground under stumbling or fatigue, or throwing him on his 

 haunches, or in lightening his mouth. The bridle should not be new, but one to which the horse is ac- 

 customed. It is of still more consequence that the saddle be one that the horse has worn before, and that 

 fits him thoroughly. The girths should also be of the best materials to prevent accidents ; and if the saddle 

 be liable to come forward, however objectionable the appearance, a crupper had better be used. Some 

 days before a long journey is attempted, if the shoes are not in order, shoe the horse ; but by no mean^ 

 let it be done as you set off, otherwise having proceeded on the journey a few miles, you find that one foot 

 is pricked, and lameness ensues; or, if this be not the case, one or more shoes pinch, or do not settle ta 

 the feet ; all which cannot be so well altered as by your own smith. 



6735. It is always best to begin a long journey by short stages, which accustoms the horse to continued 

 exertion. This is the more particularly necessary if he have not been accustomed to travel thus, or if he 

 be not in the best condition. The distance a horse can perform with ease depends greatly on circumstances/ 



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