EXCESSIVE FATIGUE. 65 



than you can remove in a week by the kindest treat- 

 ment. The hoofs should be cleaned out every morn- 

 ing and evening, stuffed with clay and salt, or fresh 

 cow manure, to keep the feet cool and prevent a swel- 

 ling in the legs. A plenty of good rubbing is abso- 

 lutely necessary for the placing of flesh speedily on a 

 horse ; and a blanket as a covering, at any time except 

 the summer months, will place on his coat of hair a 

 beautiful gloss, and add much to his comfort and ap- 

 parent value. 



EXCESSIVE FATIGUE, 



FOR a horse to undergo very great fatigue without 

 injury, requires at least one week's preparation. Pre- 

 vious to entering him on his journey, he should be fed 

 plentifully on solid old food, such as corn, fodder, 

 hay or oats, and smartly exercised from five to ten 

 miles a day. He should be well rubbed two or three 

 times every twenty-four hours, which will very readily 

 have the effect of making his flesh not only firm, but 

 hard. I have no doubt, from the experiments I have 

 made, that any tolerable good and active horse may be 

 rode one hundred miles, in a pleasant long day, with- 

 out receiving any permanent injury, by observing the 

 treatment I shall here recommend. Experience has 

 proved that rainy or drizzly weather is more favoura- 

 ble to the performance of an excessive hard ride, than 

 a day that is fair or sultry, with sunshine ; rain has 

 the effect of keeping him cool, suppling his limbs, oi 

 moistening and refreshing him. On the night pre- 



