566 HISTORY OF THE 



incidental and temporary. This observation is 

 particularly applicable to the life of a stable- 

 boy. 



" All the boys in the stable rise at the same 

 hour, from half-past two in spring, to between 

 four and five in the depth of winter. The horses 

 hear them when they aw^aken each other, and 

 neigh, to denote their eagerness to be fed. Being 

 dressed, the boy begins with carefully clearing out 

 the manger, and giving a feed of oats, which he is 

 obhged no less carefully to sift. He then proceeds 

 to dress the litter, that is, to shake the bed on 

 which the horse has been laying, remove whatever 

 is wet or unclean, and keep the remaining straw 

 in the stable for another time. The whole stables 

 are then thoroughly swept, the few places for fresh 

 air are kept open, the great heat of the stable 

 gradually cooled, and the horse, having ended his 

 first feed, is roughly cleaned and dressed. In 

 about half an hour after they begin, or a little 

 better, the horses have been rubbed down, and re- 

 clothed, saddled, each turned in his stall, then 

 bridled, mounted, and the whole string goes out 

 to morning exercise ; he that leads being the first ; 

 for each boy knows his place. 



** Except by accident, the race-horse never trots. 

 He must either walk or gallop ; and in exercise, 

 even when it is the hardest, the gallop begins 

 slowly and gradually, and increases till the horse 

 is nearly at full speed. When he has gallopped 



