]92 THE HORSE. 



flanks, thighs, and fore arms, being cleared from the 

 thickest of the dirt, it may be time to strip the horse, 

 rub him down, and as soon as possible to get him 

 finished. The feed should be tendered, so soon as he 

 may be cool enough, and desirous to receive it; and 

 half a pail of blood warm water may be allowed at 

 twice. Should the nag feed with an appetite, he will 

 be ready in due time for the next stage. If he will 

 not feed, it will not do exactly, to call upon him for 

 such another stage. It is a good precaution used, if 

 the inside and lining of the saddle has been made dry 

 and comfortable ; and at every stage, the horse's 

 back should be looked to, from the apprehension of 

 possible chafing or warbles. 



In summer travelling, the horse at the end of his 

 stage is best dried abroad, being led gently with his 

 saddle on or not, according to the temperature and 

 degree of the solar heat. In this case, I was gene- 

 rally obliged to thwart the common practice of the 

 hostlers, in not suffering them to dry my hacks in the 

 sun like a shirt ; instead of which, I ever preferred 

 the shade. I have seen horses sick and faint after a 

 hard stage, exposed by way of drying them to the 

 blazing heat of the dog-day sun, which must assur- 

 edly increase their faintness, and blunt their appe- 

 tite, beside rendering them liable to a stroke of cold 

 in removing to an atmosphere of lower temperature, 

 which may bring on the low dog-day fever, so diffi- 

 cult to remove. I remember Smolensko, from an 

 affection of this kind, losing a match over the Beacon 

 Course, in July, which I have every reason to believe, 

 he ran to win. 



