REARIXG OF RACING STOCK. 39 



avoid these evils, tliat not only is a thorough-bred 

 colt eating grass ad libitum become a rare sight, 

 but he is not suffered to be exposed to rain, even in 

 the midst of summer, no, not even to a temporary- 

 shower. The effect of rain upon horses' backs is 

 found to produce the worst of diseases — glanders, 

 for instance, as is well known to all cavalry officers 

 who have been on service with their regiments ; 

 and it cannot be innocuous to the highly-bred foal, 

 or colt. That he should be sheltered from the cold 

 of winter, need scarcely be insisted upon here, al- 

 though we are rather inclined to think, that, in the 

 generality of breeding establishments, he is more 

 exposed to weather in the winter than he ought to 

 be. There is no objection to a moderate allowance 

 of carrots, and a little green food ; but, according 

 to the old Greek proverb, AXkog ^log, aXXa d/uiruy 

 another life^ another diet, we must hear no more of 

 the " natural food" of an animal insisted upon by 

 many, who is so far called upon to outstrip the laws 

 of nature as to begin to work at fourteen months 

 old, and to appear at the starting-post at two years 

 old, displaying the form, character, and strength of 

 one nearly arrived at maturity. Neither is the 

 land on which a racing-stud is situated oftentimes 

 sufficiently considered ; but a want of such consi- 

 deration has been the source of great loss. It is 

 in vain to expect success unless upon that which 

 is dry, and consequently of sound subsoil ; and 

 what is termed " upland ground" is most favour- 

 able. Walls, independently of security, are pre- 

 ferable to hedges, for inclosures to breeding pad- 



