MODERN FARIIIEII. 1^7 



dusted a second time; he should then be nibbed 

 over with a wet hand, and all the loose hairs, and 

 whatever fonhiess there is, should be picked off. 

 When this is done, and he is wiped dry as at first, a 

 large saddle-cloth is to be put on, reaching down to 

 the spurring-place ; then tlie saddle is to be put on, 

 and a cloth thrown over it, that he may not take 

 cold ; then rub down his legs, and pick his feet with 

 an iron picker, and let the Uiane and tail be co»ibed 

 with a wet mane-conib. He should then be mount- 

 ed, and walked a mile at least to some rimning v/a- 

 ter, and there watered ; but he must only be suffered 

 to take about half his water at one drinking. 



Walk him a little after he is out of the w^ater, 

 then put him to a gentle gallop for a little v/bile, 

 and after this brinjii; him to the water ainiin. This 

 should be done three or four time^, till he will not 

 drink any more. If there is a hilly place near the 

 watering place, it is ahvays well to ride up to it ; if 

 otherwise, any place is to be chosen v. here there is 

 free air and sun. That the creature may enjoy tb.e 

 benefit of this, he is not to be galloped, but walked 

 about in this place an hour, and then taken home to 

 the stable. The pleasure the horse himself takes in 

 these airings, when well managed, is very evident ; 

 for he w^ill gape, yawn, and shrug up his body : and 

 in these, whenever he would stand still to stale, 

 dung, or listen to any noise, he is not to be hindered 

 from it, but encouraged to every thing of this kind. 



The benefits derived from these airhigs are nume- 

 rous ; they purify the blood, teach the creature how 

 to make his breathing agree with the rest of the mo- 

 tions of his body, and give him an appetite to his 

 food, which hunters and racers that are kept stalled 

 up are otherwise very apt to lose. An hour or 

 more after the horse is come in from, his airing, the 

 groom should give him a wisp of clean hay, making 

 him eat it out of his hand ; after this let the manger 

 be well cleaned out, and a quartern of oats clean 



