OTHER PRACTICES HAPPILY ABANDONED. 77 
case might be, and after walking half an hour, the same 
distance as well as they could go. Mr. Chifney, in his 
“Genius Genuine,” speaks of horses sweating six miles twice 
a week. For my part, I have never seen it practised more 
than once a week, nor the distance to exceed four miles: and 
this is surely enough work for the veriest glutton, considering 
what was to follow. For on the hottest day, when there was 
not a breath of air, the sweat streaming continuously for half 
an hour, the horse would be scraped, wiped dry, and again 
started to exercise. It should be said, in fairness, that the 
horses under this severe preparation were as fit to run as any 
horses can be, or are made in the present day, and looked as 
well. Yet, in these lenient days, few would like to revert to 
so extreme a practice, whilst the danger of laming the animals 
would deter the boldest trainer from its adoption, even though 
he should think it might be beneficial in some respects. 
It was the invariable custom in summer to water the horses 
whilst out, from a trough near a pond or well, and canter 
them afterwards; a custom plainly at variance with common 
sense, and one I unhesitatingly condemn. The night before 
the horse was to run, he was kept muzzled to prevent his 
eating the litter. This is seldom done or needed now. There 
were other usages—minor matters, it is true—in which the 
past system differed from the present. I may name one. At 
the end of the Houghton Meeting (then the recognised con- 
clusion of the racing season) the horses were, in many cases, 
turned into a loose box, without exercise, cleaning, or clothing, 
being only well fed, and left in that state till the following 
January, when they were physicked and gently put to work— 
a plan now wisely abandoned ; for the sudden transition from 
heat to cold, and wice versd, and from galloping one day, to re- 
lapsing into a state of lethargy the next, has caused many to 
