57 



The influence of regular daily exercise upon the health 

 and well bemg of the horse is generally much too lightly 

 esteemed both by masters and grooms, who seem for the 

 most part agreed, that there is no great harm in a horse 

 remaining in the stable for two or three days in succession 

 without exercise, provided his legs do not swell ; but I 

 trust, that I shall have prepared many of my readers to 

 believe with me, that it is far otherwise than indifferent to 

 liim, whether he be imprisoned day after day with the 

 elastic machinery of his foot wasting and decaying from want 

 of use, or be afibrded the opportunity of keeping it in 

 vigorous and healthy repair by due employment out of the 

 stable for two or three hours every day. 



It would be almost impossible to over-rate the value of 

 daily long continued ivalhing exercise to the health, condition, 

 soundness of feet, and general usefulness of the horse ; and 

 whoever habitually deprives him of these blessings, merely 

 to save himself a little trouble, inflicts a cruel and lasting 

 injury upon a generous and imofiending animal, and is 

 unworthy to be intrusted with the care of him. Old horses 

 requii'e less exercise, than young ones ; but as the qviantity 

 usually allotted to horses of every age falls short of the 

 portion, necessary for the very oldest, there is little appre- 

 hension of any receiving too much. The perfect allowance 

 for horses in health, of from five to fifteen years of age, 

 would be four hours a day ; two in the early morning, and 

 two in the afternoon ; but, as it requires an extensive 

 stable estabhshment to carry this plan into effect, especially 



where there are many horses kept, it will be more to our 

 I 



