The Stable Handbook 



If they appear out oftener they have just ridden 

 on to the meet to see the hounds. But I believe 

 in reality that no hard and fast rule can be laid 

 down. If a horse is seven years old, is healthy, 

 and has two years' hard food in him, I take him 

 out whenever he is fit and well and hounds are 

 at a convenient distance. My own rule is never 

 to stop at home if I have a horse fit to go. In 

 most years the inevitable frost and snow will keep 

 one in quite long enough. On the other hand, 

 while I never leave a horse fit and well in his 

 stable, I never take one out that is ailing or 

 injured in the smallest degree. There is nothing 

 more fatal than to say, '*Oh, it is only a blow," and 

 go out all the same. As long as there is tender- 

 ness or heat anywhere there is danger, and the 

 horse should stay at home or be confined to walk- 

 ing exercise. As I believe in hard work for a 

 horse, so I believe in good food and plenty of it. 

 Practically, I would let a horse have as much as he 

 could eat of grain so long as his dung remained 

 healthy, and his mouth pink and clean. Directly 

 a horse is taken off hard work reduce his grain. 



But though a horse may be worked hard, and 

 will do with ease more than the conventional 

 amount of work, yet you must take care of him. 

 Do not jump unnecessary fences, neither allow 

 yourself to turn away from one that comes in your 

 line because you consider your horse. If you 

 know he cannot jump it, that is a reason. But we 



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