SWEATING. 139 



about the hocks and ankles : heavenly creatures like 

 these were never intended for such wicked work as 

 this. All heavy sweating is dangerous to slight legs ; 

 still, sweating must be had recourse to, if the horse is 

 determined to get fat, when at the same time he is 

 not overfed : it is an evil, but not so great as having 

 to physic again. The Use of sweating is to take off 

 the carcase, or neck, any little extra flesh, not deemed 

 necessary, and which the exercise fails to do ; and 

 if done at the proper time, and not overdone, the 

 benefit is often very great ; for, two of the grand de- 

 siderata are, to strengthen the legs and diminish the 

 weight of the body : the continual regular exer- 

 cise accomplishes the first, and this will effect the 

 last. A gentle weekly sweat, towards the conclu- 

 sion of training, is, therefore, necessary for every 

 horse carrying too much flesh ; it finishes him off, and 

 draws him out fine ; but with many of the light, high- 

 spirited, over- willing ones, it may often be wholly 

 advantageously omitted. If the neck is a little too 

 fleshy, he should, from the commencement, have a 

 couple of head-jhools on at the morning's gallop ; the 

 under one without ears ; but they must be thick in- 

 deed to produce any visible effect on this part : the 

 neck will fine a little of itself as the flesh becomes 

 firm. If by nature a large bellied horse, and a little 

 too fat when commencing work, he should always 

 have one set of body-jhools round him at that time. 

 Some horses, however, will carry more flesh about 

 the carcase than others ; and if it is only muscle well 

 condensed, you perhaps have a trump, and too much 

 sweating, or extra physic, to draw such a belly over 

 fine, will often be only running to certain ruin. 

 Loaded with three complete sets of jhools, a three- 



