386 THE HORSE. 



and do not endeavor to cultivate his resources, increase his in- 

 telligence, or conciliate his affections. 



I have owned horses, in my younger days, one in particular, 

 a beautiful chestnut, thoroughbred park hackney, by Comus out 

 of a Filho da Puta mare, with a white blaze and four white 

 stockings, which I bought of my friend, Mr. Manners Sutton, 

 now Lord Canterbury, just after leaving Cambridge, which had 

 all the affection and all the docile intelligence of the cleverest 

 ^Newfoundland dog, I ever saw. His demonstrations of joy, 

 when he saw me after a short absence, were as uproarious as 

 those of a spaniel ; he literally seemed to understand ever}^ word 

 that was said to him ; and, having been perfectly trained to the 

 manege, would jump into the air and yerk out his heels, kick 

 with either hind leg, strike with either fore leg, and do a dozen 

 other pretty tricks, at the word of command, without any touch 

 or signal of either heel or hand. He was also a horse of extra- 

 ordinary action, power and speed, having once won me three 

 matches, on three consecutive days, to walk five, trot fifteen, 

 and galloj) twenty miles, each in an hour, with my own weight, 

 which was then 12 stone, or 168 lbs., on his back. 



But to resume — the stable, whether built of wood or brick, 

 must be warm, dry, light, airy, and well ventilated. Yet it must 

 have the means of being darkened, and it must be kept as cool 

 as possible in the summer. I think it is the best, if it can be 

 kept as nearly as possible at an even temperature of about 70 

 degrees of Fahrenheit through the whole season — certainly not 

 more — for fast working-horses ; — for cart-horses, and beasts of 

 burthen, no such temperature is needed. 



A stable must be perfectly well drained ; and the drains 

 must be provided with valves, opening outward before the rush 

 of descending fluids, so as to exclude the air, which, if it blows 

 in upon the heels, is very injurious ; and the dunghill should be 

 at a distance, and not under the window. 



The standing ground should be as level as is compatible with 

 a sufficient descent to carry off the water ; for which purpose 

 an inch to the yard is an ample allowance ; and the material 

 should be such as will neither absorb the moisture so as to be 

 continually damp, nor become saturated with ammonia ; which 



