110 
DARVILL ON THE CARE, TREATMENT, 
Mr. D. objects to turning out racers: he says, 
“ When once taken into training, they should be kept in stables, both 
summer and winter, until they have completed their running. When 
turned out they often come up with bad, and even incurable coughs; and, 
from their natural voracity, acquire large carcasses, becoming fat, soft, and 
bloated, with their muscles and tendons relaxed. To get them again into 
training condition, would require as much time and trouble as if he were a 
colt; and perhaps not, after all, so well accomplished as it would had he 
never been turned out.” 
Our author conceives that these disadvantage more than coun- 
terbalance the renovation which he admits both the constitution 
and legs undergo from “ pure air,” “ green food,” and “ exer¬ 
cise,” ad libitum . 
“ The most natural and judicious way of refreshing such (craving) 
horses is, by giving them rest for a sufficient time, and soiling them in the 
stables for tw o or three weeks. 
“ The proper green food consists of tares, vetches, lucerne, and clover 
grass. They should be sown so as to furnish a succession of crops, from 
early in the spring until late in the autumn; and should be cut just before 
they begin to blossom, w hile young and full of juice. Corn may, or may 
not, be given at the time, according as the groom requires a purgative ef¬ 
fect or not to be produced by the green meat. It is a great point carried if 
a craving horse can be got to purge and stale moderately by its use, i. e. 
provided he is not engaged to run again in a short period. Green food may 
be given to Might-hearted’ horses, mixed with hay. In winter, carrots w ill 
be found an excellent substitute for green-meat.” 
Sweedish turnips and mangel wurzel will likewise be found to 
be very convertible for such purposes. Some horses, at first, 
may appear not to like the flavour of these roots ; but we believe 
there are few that may not be brought to feed either on one or 
the other. 
CHAP. VI.— On WAtm. 
Water fit for the drink of horses should be 
“Soft, fresh, wholesome, pure, rain, river, or pond water: the last, being 
stagnant, should not be used unless it lie upon a clear, clay, or chalk bottom: 
upon such surfaces it not being likely to ferment.” 
In regard to quantity and times of giving drink : 
“ Horses of a delicate constitution, which feed sparingly, may be allow ed 
drink almost at any time ; but to craving horses, water should never be given 
either immediately before or after food, or immediately before or after their 
work: it should be given to them (when they remain in and are watered in 
the stables) just before they are stripped to be dressed, which is an hour be¬ 
fore they feed. On the heath, while at exercise, they are to do their 
strongest work first, and then to be walked for an hour or more, or until 
they are perfectly cool, before they go to the troughs to drink.” 
