STABLE MANAGEMENT. 407 



to the fast or match trotter ; when the hackney is named they 

 •will be taken as applying to the slower horse of all work. 



In regard to grooms and stable servants, a few words are 

 necessary. 



This is the rarest and most ditScult class of servants to obtain, 

 in ar.y country, and in this difficult above all others. 



In fjict, unless the horse owner is himself capable of direct- 

 ing and enforcing the performance of his orders, the chances of 

 his stables being well regulated, are small, indeed. 



The isrnorance or the knowingness of stable servants are 

 eqnally annoying, but the latter is probably the more dangerous ; 

 since close Avatching may prevent slovenly grooming, teach the 

 right way of doing things, and enforce cleanliness and industry, 

 but when a self-conceited, opinionated blockhead takes to giving 

 nostrums, in secret, and plaj'ing tlie veterinary surgeon, there is 

 no end to the mischief he may do, and no easy means of detect- 

 ing or arresting it, until the evil is done and irretrievable. 



Of all grooms, probably, the American is the best, when lie 

 will condescend to accept the condition of a servant ; for he is 

 naturally fond of the horse, and inclined to bestow pains on him ; 

 he is not apt to be lazy, or to spare his labor ; he is intelligent, 

 ready, quick to learn, and rarely opinionated, or obstinate. 

 However, the case is so very rare of a native American being 

 found willing to enter service, that he may be considered out of 

 the question. 



Tlie Englishman, who has been brought up in racing or 

 hunting stables, is, if steady, sober and industrious, an undeni- 

 able groom. But the best men can command such good situa- 

 tions and high wages at home, that they rarely emigrate. 

 When they do, the fatal cheapness of liquor and the prevalent 

 custom of dram-drinking, to which in their own beer and porter- 

 loving country, they are not generally used, too often corrupt 

 them, and they become slovenly, idle and worthless. It must 

 be added, that if they be really good men, they are frequently so 

 conceited, opinionated, and fond of their own way, that they 

 will not obey their employer, unless they have come to the irre- 

 sistible conclusion that he knows more about the horse, than they 

 do themselves. 



Of Ii'i&hmen~I have heard tell that, in their own country, 



