62 



tolerably free from ii-regalarities of surface, particularly that 

 portion of it upon which he is to pass the night ; for, 

 although a mass of wet sawdust may afford some shght defence 

 to the feet hj day, a layer of dry straw will be found 

 but a sorry protection by night. I have lately seen a striliing 

 instance of the ill effect of standing by night without shoes 

 on a rouglily pitched floor in a horse, whose orignjial ailment 

 was of a trifling nature, and which rest without shoes upon wet 

 sawdust would no doubt speedily have removed, if the bad 

 ])aving of the floor had not converted it into a very serious 

 case, by so bruising his feet, as to cause an abscess to form 

 Ketween the horny and sensitive soles ; when it became 

 necessary to make an opening through the horny sole, to 

 let it out. 



The advantages of a loose place over turning out ai'e too 

 numerous, to be enlarged upon in a work of this kind ; I 

 may however mention a few of the most proniiment ; the 

 chief of wliich, as regaixls our object of obtaining entire rest, 

 is the insurmountable obstacle, thus placed in the way of the 

 violent galloping, which horses from various causes are apt to 

 indulge in, when at grass ; it also prevents the incessant 

 stamping, consequent upon tlie insufferable teazing of flies ; 

 and it offers the further advantage of enabling us to regulate 

 the food, botli as to quantity and quality ; a matter deserving 

 much more consideration, than is usually bestowed ujjon it. 



In conclusion I will beg to offer a few remarks upon the 

 false estimate, usually made of the value of a warranty. A 

 general warranty, as regards the soundness of a horse, is 

 valueless ; for, if he be unsound, it will not make him sound ; 



