222 REFORMATION AND PREPARATION. 



obstinacy of the purchaser. No horse in the artificial 

 state I have described should be put to even moderate 

 work under about the six weeks I have mentioned 

 before. During this time he should get at least two, 

 generally three, doses of physic, and proper exercise, 

 which, after the first three weeks, should be daily but 

 gradually increased. He should also by the same 

 gradual means be got to bear a stable of proper tem- 

 perature, and get accustomed to change of weather. 

 His drink and his food should also be changed, and 

 in lieu of the constant hot mashes, hot gruel, hot 

 potatoes, and God knows what other trash he was 

 fattened on, good oats and an occasional cooling mash 

 should be substituted. By the end of the six weeks 

 a large portion of the gross and unhealthy fat with 

 which he was loaded will have been got off, and he 

 may be put to moderate work with safety. I say 

 moderate work, for let not the purchaser imagine his 

 horse is yet in condition for severe exertion : all that 

 has as yet been done for him has only been undoing 

 what never ought to have been done; consequently 

 he is now only in that state when the proper means 

 of bringing him into condition can with safety be re- 

 sorted to ; this, good and proper food, good stable 

 management, and regular work will effect without 

 further difficulty or danger. There may be perhaps 

 many persons who may think the precautions I have 

 pointed out as unnecessary, and the danger I have 

 represented as exaggerated : if there be such, and 

 doubtless there are many, let them ask any respect- 

 able dealer, or any other really good judge of horses, 

 whether they are so. If they say that they are, I will 

 bow with submission : if not, and the advice I have 

 given is acted upon, I shall feel my time, so far from 

 having been thrown away, has been usefully employed. 



