DETAIL OF WORK. 189 



I think the morning, say about nine o'clock, is the 

 safest time to give a ball to a horse, and that there is 

 then, little chance of his becoming over-purged during 

 the night, when help cannot be readily obtained. 



The first month's exercise may consist of walking 

 for a longer distance than the horse has done during 

 the summer, say, eight miles in the morning and four 

 in the evening, varied every second day or so by a 

 couple of miles trotting, or a slow canter for half a 

 mile now and then. In fact, the work should not 

 exceed gentle hacking. On commencing the second 

 month, the trotting may be stopped, and slow canter- 

 ing, up to one mile, substituted. This work ought 

 only to take place in the morning, and should be 

 gradually lengthened. The speed of the canter ought 

 only to be just sufficient to keep the horse out of trot, 

 or perhaps a very little more. During this month, no 

 clothing should be put on at exercise ; for the weather 

 will be still very warm. On no account should the 

 horse do more work than, in the morning, a slow 

 canter after an hour's walking ; and in the evening, 

 nothing more than a four or five-mile walk. The morn- 

 ing work should be completed, and the horse back in 

 his stable, before the sun is well up. 



On finishing the canter, the horse should be pulled 

 up very gradually, so as not to strain his forelegs or 

 hocks, and not until he has gone a couple of hundred 

 yards beyond the winning-post if on a race-course. 

 He may then be turned round towards the inside, 

 and trotted to the rubbing- down shed, where he is 

 scraped and rubbed down (see page 168) ; or he may 

 be walked home. 



