GROUND FOR EXERCISE. 393 



his work will be completed. Although these influences are 

 by no means so potent for spoiling a horse's temper when the 

 work is slow, as when it is fast ; we may take for granted that 

 horses like change of scene, and we should if possible humour 

 them in this respect. 



If there is difficulty in obtaining ground for exercise by the 

 sides of the roads or by bridle paths, it is well worth while, if 

 practicable, to lay down an exercising track, which need not 

 be more than half a mile round ; although for training race- 

 horses we would require one at least ij mile. An owner 

 who takes a personal interest in the stable management and 

 exercise of his animals will generally find it convenient to 

 have such a track in a place which he can see from his house, 

 and thus observe the work that is being done. The ground I 

 like best for exercise is light sand with a covering of mould 

 (liumus), which will yield a soft and elastic surface, and, 

 having a porous subsoil, will not hold rain for a long time like 

 clay. Sand by itself is fatiguing to a horse and makes him 

 slow, by reason of its want of elasticity. Clay is very bad ; 

 because it becomes as hard as the proverbial turnpike road 

 in dry weather, and is dangerously slippery in wet weather. 

 Chalk, as we find at Epsom, gets very hard during the 

 summer. The " going " can be greatly improved in most 

 cases, and especially when the ground is porous, by frequently 

 giving it a light dressing of stable manure. Although it is 

 the custom of grooms when mounted, to lead a horse always 

 on the off side of the animal they are riding, there is no doubt 

 that this practice tends to spoil the mouth of the led horse by 

 making the near side softer than the off. I would therefore 

 strongly advise that horses should be led as often on the near 

 side as on the off. To this it might be objected that a horse 

 led on the near side of the mounted animal, and travelling on 

 the right side of the road, as is the custom, might, on becom- 

 ing startled by passing traffic, swing round and get hurt ; but 



