158 HOW TO USE A HORSK. 



ble; they n.ust have sufficient intervals for halting and 

 baiting, on the road, must be cleaned and well fed during 

 ihe intervals of work, and must have ample time for undis- 

 turbed repose. The distance which horses in perfect con- 

 dition can go upon the road, varies greatly with the powers 

 of the animal, the degree of pains bestowed on him, the 

 skill of his driver, and the amount of his load, as well as 

 the state of the roads. But it may be taken as a rule, thai 

 strong, able horses, of moderate speed, can travel forty miles 

 a day, with a moderate load, without distress, for many 

 days in succession. It may be observed, that it is the bet- 

 ter way to start at an easy pace when on a journey, to in- 

 crease it slightly in the middle of the day, and again to 

 relax it before coming in at night, in order to allow the 

 animals to enter their stables cool, in good order, and ready, 

 after a short rest, and cleaning, to feed with an appetite. 



It may also be observed, in this point of view, that it is 

 a mistake to fancy that horses are benefited by being 

 driven or ridden very slowly when they have a long dis- 

 tance to perform. If a horse have to get over forty miles 

 in a day, the roads being good, the temperature of the day 

 pleasant, and the load not excessive, he will do it with more 

 ease and less inconvenience to himself, going at the rate 

 of seven or eight miles the hour, and doing the whole dis- 

 tance in five or six hours, — with a single stoppage, in the 

 middle of the day, to feed and rest, — than if he be kept 

 pottering along at the rate of four or five miles, and be 

 kept out of his stable, hungry and thirsty, and leg-weary 

 to-boot, for a longer time. 



Ffirm-horses, whose work is necessarily slow and con 

 tinuous, lasting ordinarily from sunrise to sunset; with the 

 exception of a mid-day halt for baiting, are under different 

 circumstances. Their work being always slow, and rarely, 

 if ever, severe, at the moment, or toUsome, except from its 



