308 STABLE ECONOMY. 



have good legs to stand the exertion. When the legs and 

 the chest are both defective, the horse will turn out a very or- 

 dinary animal. He will last longer at slow than at fast work. 



Quantity of Flesh. — When the horse goes into preparation 

 for work he is sometimes lean. He may have been half 

 starved. He may be so low in flesh that he has neither abil- 

 ity nor inclination to make exertion. To get such a horse 

 ready for fast-work, we must begin with feeding. He may 

 require a little medicine, but in general it is sufficient to let 

 him have plenty of good food, and gentle exercise, enough to 

 keep him in health. As he takes on flesh his exercise must 

 increase both in pace and distance. Though not given in 

 such measure as to keep the horse very lean, it must must be 

 severe enough to prevent the formation of fat in his belly. To 

 keep his carcass light and his wind good, he must have an 

 occasional gallop. 



But the horse is rarely very lean when he goes into train- 

 ing. Most generally he is plump, fat, full of flesh, and in 

 high spirits. In this state he is easily injured by exertion. 

 He has so much animation that he is willing to do more than 

 is good for him. The very lean horse seldom has the incli- 

 nation. 



Hunters and racers are idle, or nearly so, for two or three 

 months before they go into training. During this time they 

 are so well fed that they acquire much more flesh than they 

 can safely carry at work. The trainer has to remove a good 

 deal of this superfluous flesh. Why is it ever put on ? I have 

 elsewhere observed that I think these horses, while idle, 

 should be fed in such a way that they may not be fat, though 

 they may be plump and hearty by the lime they go into train- 

 ing. But, possibly, there maj^ be something which I have not 

 considered that may forbid this. I would recommend a trial 

 of one horse, or two only. 



In all horses, not very lean, there are certain juices, solids, 

 and fluids, which do not contribute in any degree to produce, 

 or to aid, muscular exertion. Most of the superfluous matter 

 consists of fat ; part lines the belly, part lies in the connex- 

 ions of the intestines ; some lies below the skin, and some 

 between the muscles, and in the texture of the muscles. Hor- 

 ses that are never accustomed to pass a walk or a slow trot, 

 carry a great deal of the fat in their belly ; others of fast 

 work carry the largest portion under the skin ; it covers the 

 ribs, where it is carried with least inconvenience. This f;it 

 is lodged in a tissue, which pervades all parts of the body, as 



