210 THE HORSE. 



action in any shape, the whole attention of the groom being devoted 

 to the single object which is connected with the removal of fat. 

 It is usual, therefore, to send the horse along at a slow, steady, 

 hand-gallop for four miles, or in very gross animals for five or six, 

 the last half mile only being done at anything like a fast pace, and 

 even then the horse should not be extended to the utmost, on 

 account of the great extra weight he has to carry, if he has two or 

 three sweating blankets on. It is quite necessary to bear in mind 

 this special object of the sweat, inasmuch as it has lately become 

 the fashion to sweat without either clothing or exercise, by means 

 of the Turkish bath. The opponents of this practice contend that 

 it can never supersede the old plan, because, though it will get rid 

 of superfluities, it will not develop muscle ; but they forget that it 

 is not used for the latter purpose, but is solely confined to the one 

 object, which by the employment of sweating blankets out of doors 

 is accompanied with considerable risk. The Turkish bath is, in 

 fact, a means to one end only, and must not be employed for any 

 other. No horse could have his muscles and heart, his wind and 

 limbs, made more wiry and enduring than before by any number of 

 baths; but he may be put into a condition which shall fit him for 

 being so, without the risk to the legs and feet which a number of 

 sweats in heavy clothing will always cause. No wonder, therefore, 

 that trainers eagerly resort to the use of the bath, especially as 

 every year their horses seem to be getting more and more liable to 

 break down. It is quite true that the old fashioned sweat com- 

 bines muscular exercise with the process of unloading the system, 

 but in so doing, the time of the groom is the only thing saved, and 

 no one would take that into the calculation, as being worthy of 

 consideration. In the new mode, when he is too gross, the horse 

 is sweated on one day, and on the next he may be galloped, if 

 necessary, the bath producing so little fatigue, that he may have 

 any amount of exercise directly after it, to which he is accustomed. 

 Newmarket trainers are not very easily induced to adopt a novelty, 

 but many of them have made up their minds as to the advantages 

 of the bath, and several of those who are to be regarded as the 

 highest authorities, have erected one on their premises. In resort- 

 ing to the bath at first the attempt was made to save doubtful legs 

 only, but the good effect was soon found to extend beyond this, and 

 in almost all eases where there would be any necessity for sweats 

 and clothing, the Turkish bath is adopted instead, by those who 

 have the means at their disposal. I shall, therefore, describe each 

 of these plans in detail. 



ORDINARY SWEATING. 



When the old fashioned sweat is intended to be given, and 

 it is not proposed to reduce any part in particular, it is usual to 



