BRITISH TURF. 537 



horses that require '• soiling," are vetches, clover 

 grass, tares and lucerne. These should be cut 

 when beginning to blossom, being at that period 

 tender and full of juice ; and they should be 

 brought from the field to the stable, perfectly 

 fresh. 



The green food may be mixed with hay or not, 

 at the discretion of the trainer, with whom rests 

 also the responsibility of regulating its use, ac- 

 cording to the constitution, and the state of body, 

 as arising from work of the horse ; particularly 

 watching its effect, and when occasion for physic 

 may arise. In winter, delicate feeders, laying by, 

 may have a few carrots with their corn ; but we 

 would not recommend their common use in the 

 stable, as we are aware is sometimes the practice. 



The best water for horses, is soft, fresh, and pure 

 rain river, or pond water, and it is absolutely 

 necessary, to preserve health in the stable, that a 

 constant and ample supply should be on the 

 premises. In order to effect this, when well or 

 spring water is the only water to be obtained, it 

 should be put into troughs, having some clay 

 and chalk at the bottom, and softened before use, 

 by exposure to the sun and air. 



Such is the effect a change of water has been 

 known to produce in a horse, that in some 

 instances, even the loss of a great race has been 

 with much show of reason ascribed to this cause 

 alone ; and careful trainers have even gone so far 



