KEEPING. 



27 



fat, but his flesh will be very firm and hard ; his legs 

 and ancles must be perfectly cool, and not puffed or 

 swelled ; his eyes should be lively, and countenance 

 cheerful: he should possess no bad habits, but be 

 tractable, gentle, and manageable ; his actions smooth 

 and graceful ; he should be taught patience ; and often 

 practised in starting around the race course, never 

 permitting him to go off, until the word GO is given. 

 Many advantages result in a race, to a horse, being 

 Droperly broke in starting. 



After a horse has gone through his practice, and has 

 been well rubbed, &c. &c. his feet should be stuffed, 

 (during the time of his standing in the stable) with 

 fresh cow manure, or clay and salt, to prevent his 

 ancles from swelling or being heated ; his legs should 

 be bathed once a week, with equal parts of old peach 

 brandv and fresh butter, or sweet oil and vinegar, 

 stewed over the fire until well mixed, and applied 

 warm as the hand can bear it. 



Whenever a horse commences his brisk exercise, 

 the under part of his ancles should be occasionally, 

 greased, to prevent their cracking and the scratches 

 being produced. The heels of most young horses 

 crack, during their exercise, unless this precaution is 

 used ; fresh butter, sweet oil, or hog's lard, answers 

 well for that purpose. 



The subject of keeping horses is so extensi%^e, that 

 to treat fully on it, would require a book at least the 

 size of this ; the reader, therefore, must be content 

 with the few hints and few pages I have devoted to 

 this subject. 



