PHYSIC— FINAL PREPARATION. 219 



which, are lodged around the heart and other internal organs, and 

 which it is the grand object of the training-groom to remove. 



But the effects of physic are not always so simple and inno- 

 cent as those to which I have alluded. A strong horse is some- 

 times over-purged by a very mild dose, and a weak one will occa- 

 sionally die from this cause. Hence, this agent should not be idly 

 used ; and not only is it actually dangerous to life in some few 

 cases, but it weakens the tone of the stomach in many more. Still, 

 in the majority of horses, a well-mixed physic-ball, carefully given, 

 and followed by proper management, will freshen the ligestive 

 organs rather than weaken them, and may be regarded as a most 

 valuable addition to the resources of the groom. 



FINAL PREPARATION. 



To GET A HUNTER THOROUGHLY FIT, he must uot Only have 

 gone through the preparatory work which I have described, but 

 he must undergo a further winding up, according to the old- 

 established rule on the subject, and irrespective of the vexed ques- 

 tions connected with the Turkish bath, which may be considered 

 to be yet in abeyance. Having had a gentle dose of physic at the 

 end of his first preparation, he is proceeded with as follows: — 

 Every day he is walked out for three or four hours, either at one 

 or two periods of the day. If he is thorough-bred, he will bear 

 some brisk gallops and one or two sweats, with or without clothing, 

 every week ; but half-breeds do not stand much fast work, and are 

 better confined to walking and trotting exercise, with an occasional 

 spirt of half a mile. These low-bred animals cannot bear any liber- 

 ties to be taken with their systems ; and I am told that with them 

 the Turkish bath is far more eflfectual than with the horse of pure 

 Eastern blood. I can easily imagine this, as I know how badly 

 the former class bear reduction, and yet how important it is to 

 clear their wind. The feeding should be confined to oats and hay, 

 with a bran-mash on Saturday night. About five quarterns of 

 oats will, on the average, suffice; but no rule can be laid down, 

 nor can it be positively asserted that no beans should be given. 

 In some cases the appetite is so bad, that without them enough 

 corn will not be taken ; and this is especially true with reference 

 to those old horses which have been accustomed to beans for many 

 years. When the feet and legs, as well as the wind, are all sound, 

 beans may be allowed without fear ; but when there is a screw 

 loose in any of these departments, they produce inflammation there, 

 and should be carefully avoided. Ten pounds of hay may also be 

 laid down as the average quantity of this article suited to the 

 hunter; but here, also, no absolute rule can be carried out. Some 

 horses would "drop in two," as the grooms say, if only allowed ten 

 pounds of hay daily ; while others would look quite lusty with that 

 quantity. A handful of chaff with each feed of corn is all that 



