EFFECT OF PROTRACTED REST. G3 



clear in their wincl^ and a fast pace liad from use 

 become natural to them. 



If these same horses were put to a long stage, 

 where they worked two days and rested one, the 

 two rested horses Avould, so far from being in the 

 best state of the four to commence their stage, 

 come out of the stable as stiff as if they had no 

 joints to their limbs ; nor till they had hobbled and 

 cantered a couple of miles could they settle to any- 

 thing like a trot. Old hunters are, in a mitigated 

 way, similarly affected by absence of exercise. 



We all know that aged horses will stand more 

 work than very young ones ; but neither aged nor 

 old horses will stand great exertion and long rest 

 alternately. 



In former times it was a frequent practice, if a 

 hunter got a little stale, to ^' give the old horse a 

 year's run ; " and the groom would prognosticate, 

 and the master feel assured, that old Topthorn 

 Avould come up ^^ as fresh as a four year old : " 

 nor was the idea altogether a mistaken one of its 

 day. Such long rest would in many cases and 

 ailments prove beneficial to a horse returning to 

 the slow work hunting was in such days; and 

 getting gradually into hard keep again, and 

 gradually getting again into the pace required of 

 him, the year's run probably did prolong his 

 hunting career, and answered the intended pur- 



