SUMMERING. 223 



a horse would have of winning a race in November if he is eating 

 nothing but grass in August. Indeed, a fast run in Leicestershire 

 is even more trying to condition than an ordinary race, because, 

 though the pace is not quite so good, it is more true, and lasts four 

 or five times as long. Hence the old plan has been almost uni- 

 versally given up, and the hunter is summered in a loose box, 

 where he is generally "soiled" on vetches, lucerne, and clover. 

 Moreover, it is found by practical experience, that far more good 

 may be done in renovating the legs in-doors than out at this seuson 

 of the year. In the winter, cold, starvation, and soft ground all 

 combine to restore the legs to a cool and healthy state; and a run 

 from October to May will do far more good than the same time 

 passed in a loose box. But during the summer the ground is hard, 

 the sun shines fully upon the legs, so as to inflame them if they 

 have any tendency that way, and the grasses are so succulent that 

 the body becomes heavy and the blood full of gross humors, both 

 of which last conditions tell with double force upon the legs and 

 feet. Again, the flies which are so tormenting to horses in June, 

 July, and August, cause them often to gallop about in the most 

 frantic manner, and thus not only is another obstacle presented to 

 their improvement, but it very often causes these parts to become 

 worse than in the season. But some will say that much of this 

 risk may be avoided by turning the hunter out into the marshes, 

 where the soil is always cool, soft, and moist. This is quite true ; 

 nevertheless, the gain to the legs is at the expense of the general 

 system, which is so completely upset by moist grasses, that instead 

 of eight or nine weeks it will require as many months to eradicate 

 their ill effects. As far as the hunter is concerned, there can be 

 no question in my mind that a loose box is the proper place for 

 him during the summer; and that he should be allowed a yard to 

 run into if it can possibly be so arranged admits of little doubt, 

 but if this is inconvenient, the Nimrodian plan of confining him 

 in the ordinary loose box is to be accepted in its entirety. The 

 hack or harness horse does not receive so much injury from a 

 summer's run as the hunter, but if he requires rest for his legs, it 

 is far better to turn him out in the winter season than during the 

 opposite division of the year. Nevertheless, as there are still some 

 advocates of the summer's run at grass, I shall give directions for 

 it, as well as for the soiling in the stable, as advised by " Nimrod." 

 Soiling is conducted as follows : — At the conclusion of the hunt- 

 ing season the horse is gradually cooled down, either by removing 

 his clothing in the stable, and letting him first stand there naked 

 for two or three weeks, or by putting him with it on into a moder- 

 ately warm loose box, and after he has been there a day or two 

 taking it away by degrees. At the same time he is deprived of his 

 corn, and fed upon hay only ; but this change also must not be too 



