86 THE DIBTERENT BREEDS OF ENGLISH HORSES. 



coolness of the grass into which they are turned in April or May ; and nothing 

 so calculated to remove every enlargement and sprain, as the gentle exercise 

 which the animal voluntarily takes while his legs are exposed to the cooling 

 process of evaporation that is taking place from the herbage on which he treads. 

 The experience of ages has shown, that it is superior to all the embrocations 

 and bandages of the most skilful veterinarian. It is the renovating process of 

 nature, where the art of man fails. 



The spring grass is the best physic that can possibly be administered to the 

 horse. To a degree, which no artificial aperient or diuretic can reach, it car- 

 ries off every humour that may be lurking about the animal. It fines down 

 the roundness of the legs ; and, except there is some bony enlargement, re- 

 stores them almost to their original form and strength. When, however, the 

 summer has thoroughly set in, the grass ceases to be succulent, aperient, or 

 medicinal. The ground is no longer cool and moist, at least during the day ; 

 and a host of tormentors, in the shape of flies, are, from sunrise to sunset, per- 

 secuting the poor animal. Running and stamping to rid himself of his plagues, 

 his feet are battered by the hard ground, and he newly, and perhaps more 

 severely, injures bis legs. Kept in a constant state of irritation and fever, he 

 rapidly loses his condition, and sometimes comes up in August little better than 

 a skeleton. 



Let the horse be turned out as soon as possible after the hunting season is 

 over. Let him have the whole of May, and the greater part, or possibly the 

 whole of June ; but when the grass fails, and the ground gets hard, and the flies 

 torment, let him be taken up. All the benefits of turning out, and that which 

 a loose box and artificial physic can never give, will have been obtained, without 

 the inconvenience and injury that attend an injudiciously protracted run at 

 grass, and which, arguing against the use of a thing from the abuse of it, have 

 been improperly urged against turning out at all. 



The Steeple Chase is a relic of ancient foolhardiness and cruelty. It was the 

 form under which the horse-race, at its first establishment, was frequently 

 decided. It is a race across the country, of two, or four, or even a greater 

 number of miles, and it is generally contrived that there shall be some deep 

 lane, or wide brook, and many a stiff and dangerous fence between. It is ridden 

 at the evident hazard of the life of the sportsman ; and it likewise puts to hazard 

 the life or enjoyment of the horse. Many serious accidents have happened both 

 to the horse and his rider, and the practice must ere long get into disuse ; for, 

 while it can have no possible recommendation but its foolhardiness, it has on 

 many occasions been disgraced by barefaced dishonesty. 



THE HACKNEY. 



The perfect Hackney is more difficult to find than even the hunter or the 

 courser. There are several faults that may be overlooked in the hunter, but 

 which the road- horse must not have. The former may start ; maybe awkward 

 in his walk, or even his trot ; he may have thrushes or corns ; but if he can go 

 a good slapping pace, and has wind and bottom, we can put up with him and 

 prize him : but the hackney, if he is worth having, must have good fore-legs, 

 and good hinder ones too; he must be sound on his feet; even-tempered; no 

 starter ; quiet, in whatever situation he may be placed ; not heavy in hand ; 

 and never disposed to fall on his knees. 



If there is one thing more than any other, in which the possessor, and, in his 

 own estimation at least, the tolerable judge of the horse, is in error, it is the 

 action of the road-horse : " Let him lift his legs well," it is said, " and he will 

 never come down." 



In proportion, however, as he lifts his legs well, will be the force with which 

 he puts them down again ; the jar and concussion to the rider ; and the batter- 



