226 MODERN FAERIER. 



There is a general practice among the grooms, in 

 many places, of giving their hunters wheat straw as 

 soon as they take them up f r onj grass. They say 

 they do this to take uyj their belhes; but there 

 seems much reason to disapprove of this. The 

 change is very violent, and the nature of the straw 

 so heating and drying, that there seems great reason 

 to fear that the astringent natnre of it 'vvould be 

 prejudicial more than is at first perceived. It is 

 always found that the dung is hard after this foody 

 and is voided with pain and difficulty, w^hich is in 

 general very wrong for this sort of horse. It is 

 better therefore to avoid this straw-feeding, and to 

 depend upon moderate airing, w^arm clothing, and" 

 good old hay and old corn, than to have recourse to 

 any thing of this kind. 



A¥hen the horse lias evacuated all his grass, and 

 has been properly shod, and the shoes have had 

 time to settle to his feet, he may be ridden abroad, 

 and treated in this manner: the groom ought to 

 visit him early in the morning, at five o'clock in the 

 long days, and at six in the short ones ; he must 

 then clean out the stable, and feel the horse's neck, 

 ilank, and belly, to find the state of his health. If 

 the flank feels soft and flabby, there is a necessity of 

 good diet to harden it, otherwise any great exercise 

 will occasion swellings and goutiness in the heels. 

 After this exammation, a handful or two of good 

 old oats, well sifted, should be given him ; this will 

 make him have more inclination to water, and will 

 also make the water sit better on his stonjach than 

 if he drank fasting. After this, he is to be tied up 

 and dressed. If in the doing of this he opens his 

 mouth, as if he would bite, or attempts to kick at 

 the person, it is a proof that the teeth of the cuiry- 

 comb are too sharp, and must be filed blunter. If 

 after this he continues the same tricks, it is through 

 wantonness, and he should be corrected for it — 

 Then lie is to be rubbed down with the brush, and 



