THE HORSE. 189 



a peck and a half of oats. Hasty travellers will yet 

 find an advantage in starting at a very moderate pace, 

 and in finishing the three last miles of a stage, more 

 especially in hot weather, as leisurely as their haste 

 will admit, since by such means, they will save time; 

 as their horse, on reaching the inn, will be the sooner 

 dry and ready to feed. On the road, the horse may 

 be indulged, every eight or ten miles, if he require it, 

 with a few go-downs of water ; and in hot weather 

 over hard roads, and with fast travelling, when the 

 shoes acquire a burning heat, it is most refreshing to 

 the horse, to ride him over his pasterns, momentarily, 

 through any water that may be accessible. But a 

 caution of much moment must have place here ; be 

 the weather hot or cold, a horse in a state of perspira- 

 tion should never be kept standing any length of time 

 in water. An old writer records the case of a hunter 

 so rendered irrecoverable; and some years since, a 

 neighbour of mine, by the same accident, brought an 

 incurable founder upon his chaise horse. 



In fast travelling, every horseman of common sense, 

 will ease his hack up the hills, giving as many pulls 

 as the nag may seem to require : down hill, he may 

 dash away, as the old seamen used to say — at no 

 allowance ; provided always, that in the first place, 

 his horse's feet are sound, and in the next, that the 

 horse be well confirmed in the theory arid practice of 

 safely descending a hill. I have in former, and foolish 

 days, rattled down a steep hill, on a skilful, but tender 

 footed hack, trotting after the rate of eighteen miles 

 an hour, the nag not bearing an ounce on the bit, but 

 seeming as if inclined to sit upon his haunches. 



