166 GENERAL TREATMENT OP HORSES. 



of the animal. Tlie training of the race-horse is 

 brought to such a nicety, that his running can be 

 calculated nearly to a certainty by his work — that 

 is, by the number of sweats and gallops he has had 

 before his race ; and the stage-coach and post-horse 

 now come forth from their stall? in all the pride of 

 health and spirits, instead of being the pitiable 

 objects they were, not fifty years back. Not only 

 the hackney, but the agricultural-horse, has par- 

 taken of this advantageous addition to natural 

 powers, and which, if not unnecessarily trespassed 

 upon, very considerably diminishes the severity of 

 his daily labour. But the greatest change for the 

 better has been effected in the physical condition 

 of the hunter, who now appears at the cover side 

 in the vio-orous state of the race-horse ; in a state, 

 in fact, in which he ought to appear, inasmuch as 

 he is called upon to go at a racing pace, and yet, if 

 fairly ridden throughout the chase, he is, by this 

 means, rendered nearly superior to fatigue. How 

 all this has been accomplished, we will endeavour 

 to show ; and at the same time to make it apparent, 

 that although Nature never presents us with ani- 

 mals in what we call condition, (a state altogether 

 artificial,) yet she is ever ready and desirous to 

 meet the demands of Art, when scientifically and 

 judiciously made upon her. 



The improvement in training the race-horse has 

 been the result of two distinct causes, each equally 

 likely to produce the desired effect. First, practi- 

 cal experience, an excellent schoolmaster in such 

 matters ; and, secondly, both breeders and trainers 



