220 THE HORSE. 



should be given of this article, as more than this is apt to fill the 

 horse out in the middle of the day. Towards the end of this pe- 

 riod, which may extend to five or six weeks, the horse gradually 

 gets into high condition, and at any time, on a day's notice, he 

 may be ready for the hunting-field. All that is required is to give 

 him no hay on that morning, but to feed him twice on his usual 

 allowance of corn, with a few go-downs of water only each time. 

 The hunter does not require to be " set" overnight, like the race- 

 horse, and he may advantageously be given his usual weight of 

 hay at the bedding him up the night before j but if he has any 

 tendency to eat his litter, it is prudent at all times, but more espe- 

 cially then, to put a muzzle on him late at night, when he has 

 eaten his hay. 



HACKS AND HARNESS-HORSES demand nearly as much time 

 and care to prepare them for their work, especially in relation to 

 the amount of corn which is allowed them. They seldom want so 

 much as five quarterns daily; but whatever quantity they may re- 

 quire, it should not be given them until they are gradually accus- 

 tomed to its use. So also with regard to the hammering of their 

 feet and legs on the road, it will be found that these demand sea- 

 soning as much as their wind and muscles. If this is not attended 

 to, the best formed legs and feet will become inflamed, and a valua- 

 ble horse may be lamed, when, with proper care, he might be made 

 to do his work with ease. Our own bodies, when untrained to bear 

 the blows of the fist, show the marks of the glove clearly enough; 

 but in the course of time, when the skin has gradually become 

 inured to the stimulus, even the terrible right hand of Tom Sayers 

 would fail to leave its mark upon the ribs of a well-trained opponent. 

 This difference in the result of the application of physical force 

 arises partly from the tendency to inflammation being subdued by 

 temperate living and abundant exercise, and partly from the nerves 

 and vessels of the skin becoming habituated to the blows which 

 they receive. So also with the hack and harness-horse ; when first 

 they are brought into the stable, their vessels are full of gross hu- 

 mors, and their feet and legs have long been accustomed only to 

 the soft and elastic turf upon which they have been reared. They 

 are, therefore, prone to inflammation in every way : and until their 

 systems have been hardened by plenty of exercise, and their legs 

 and feet have been gradually inured to our hard roads, they should 

 be kept from every kind of fast work. 



TREATMENT AFTER WORK. 



AFTER WORK the horse requires to be treated according to its 

 nature and the extent to which it has been carried. Thus the 

 hunter may demand remedies for exhaustion, blows on the legs, 

 thorns in the legs, overreaches, cuts, &c. ; but the hack and car- 



