THE HACK OR HACKNEY. 19 



too long* kept as fixtures in their stalls, tied up by the head without space or power 

 to exercise their limbs, but many considerate Sportsmen adopt the use of the LOOSE 

 STABLE, which, in the cases of inflamed and debilitated sinews and battered hoofs, 

 is the only in-door resource and remedy. The English horse, especially in all 

 sporting stables, still rests his wearied limbs, and tender, shaken feet upon a deep 

 and comfortable cool bed of fresh straw, throughout the day, in spite of certain 

 new-fangled recommendations of the superior comfort and use of hard and cold 

 stones. Constant good corn-feeding, high condition, burnished coats, and the 

 perfection of animal powers, still hold their ground against left-handed and scalt- 

 miserable economy, faint sweats, rough staring coats, knocking together of the 

 legs, and knocking up. The horse should alway have green meat in the season, 

 and whenever convenience will admit, be permitted to cut his own meat abroad, 

 and enjoy the pure air of spring, and the refreshing dews of heaven, for at least a 

 few weeks. 



In TRIMMING the Horse, the old odious and torturing custom of singeing his 

 ears with a lighted candle, has long since been discarded by Sportsmen, scissars 

 being the proper substitute, and the ear should not be left too bare, more especially 

 in the cold season. The curb and snaffle BRIDLES are the same essentially, as have 

 been long since in use ; but perhaps the curb has been too much improved in 

 severity, and with too little real benefit. The SADDLE has suffered no change of 

 importance, although various trivial alterations, and is secured upon the horse's 

 back, as it was fifty years ago, by two girths placed exactly one over the other. 



Xi* 



CRUPPERS have been within that period, exploded, and saddle cloths h;,.e only 

 been in occasional use. The SASH or broad white collar down the should; cs of the 

 saddle horse, fastened to the peak of the saddle, and connected beneath the chest, 

 with the girths, was a prevailing fashion forty years ago, and supposed to exhibit 

 to advantage, a deep and slanting shoulder : if it had any real use, it was to pre- 

 vent the light-carcassed horse from slipping or running out of his girths, an acci- 

 dent sometimes seen upon the turf. 



The cruel and useless custom of NICKING is by no means so prevalent as formerly 

 for saddle horses, which at present, almost universally wear somewhat short, cut tails, 

 nearly in the style of those of the racer. The heels are close trimmed. In the 

 management of the FEET and SHOEING the horse, the toes should be kept short, 

 both for security in action, and to promote the growth and spread of the heels. 

 As little as possible, perhaps nothing excepting rotten material, should be pared 

 from the frog and quarters, and the soal itself should be pared with caution, and 

 only in case of exuberance, since travel will wear the substance, particularly of a 

 thin foot, full fast. The too common practice of farriers opening the keels, is the 

 readiest mode with most feet, to prevent their remaining open, by depriving them 

 of that substance which should intervene to keep them so, and which in weak feet 

 is not able to keep pace in growth, with the destruction of the paring knife. The 



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