Chapter V: Part 5

_If you have a Pair of Horses on trial_, the usual charge for them, you finding provender, is about Two Guineas per Week:--Try them by driving them two or three times seven or eight Miles into the Country, where there is a good Hill to go up, such as Highgate or Hampstead Hill, you will soon find out what kind of Temper they are of:--if they have any lameness, or defects, &c.--and if they _work equally, and step well together_, which is extremely important;--if they are not of equal Courage and equal Pace, your Coachman will be obliged to be continually whipping one of them, in order to keep him to his Collar; and he cannot flog the Idle horse without hurting the feelings of his Industrious companion, and also those of the Persons he is driving, who, if they have any humanity, will not bear to see the willing suffer for the sluggishness of the Lazy. Moreover, every time the Whip is used the Horses spring forward, and the Carriage goes in a Hop, Step, and a Jump kind of style, which is extremely disagreeable.

_Sluggish Horses are good for Nought_, but to drag a Cart. Your own Arms will be almost as soon tired in making them move their Legs, as if you had travelled as far on your own Feet.

The following paragraphs are from “The New Method of Managing Horses, by the Thrice Noble, High and Puissant WILLIAM CAVENDISHE, Duke, Marquess, and Earl of Newcastle,” fol. 1667:--

“Be not afraid of a Horse who shews _Strength_, _Spirit_, and _Stomach_: a Horse having them cannot choose but be made a _Ready Horse_, if he be under the Discipline of an Understanding Hand and Knowing Heels.

“When a Horse doth not _Rebel_ it shews Weakness and faintness of _Spirit_, and no Courage. Where Nature is much Wanting, it is hard for Art to supply it.”--P. 199.

“TRYING is the only way to KNOW HORSES.”

“I told you that Marks, Colours, and Elements, are nothing at all to know a Horse by; they are but _Philosophical Mountebanks_ that talk of such _Toyes_. Nay, _Shape_ is nothing to know the Goodness of a Horse--_the best Philosophy is to Try him_; and you may be deceived then, if he be a Young Horse;--Colts alter extremely both in _Spirits_ and _Strength_. What Judgment can one give of a _Little Boy_, what _Kind of Man_ he will prove? No more can one give a Judgment of a Colt, what Kind of Horse he will prove. _Ride_ him and _Try_ him; that is the best _Philosophy_ to know him by.”--P. 104.

“A Young Horse of _Three Years Old_ is but a _Gristle_,” saith his Grace of Newcastle, in p. 202 of his Book.

“For any Man that would have _a Horse of Use_ in his ordinary occasions, or for _Journeys_, or _Hunting_, I would never buy a Horse till the _Mark be out of his Mouth_, _i. e._ till he be SEVEN years old; and if he be sound Wind, Limb, and Sight, he will then last you Eight or Nine Years.

“A Young Horse will have as many _Diseases_ as a Young Child, and you will have to leave him with your Host at some Inn, and hire another Horse for your Occasion; and have your Host’s Bill, and the Farrier’s, which will come to more than your Horse is Worth; and there’s your _Young_ Horse; but your hearty _Old_ Horse shall never Fail you.”

There is more Trouble in looking after _One_ Young Horse than in taking care of _Two_ old ones.

Let the Horse you select for trial be stripped--let your own Servant (who being a stranger to him will not know how to humour defects or conceal any dispositions he may have to vice, &c.) walk and trot him in a strait line, on a paved piece of Road, such as is used for this purpose at the Veterinary College at Saint Pancras; while you stand alternately before and behind him; observe well if he has any inequality in his motions--see if he steps firmly on the ground--stop him often--put him on again--observe whether in setting off he has a partiality for either Leg, beyond that which seems to be natural to Horses in every part of the World, of taking off with the Left.

_If a Horse is Lame with one Leg_, it is sometimes disguised by putting in a Stone between the Shoe and the sole of the other foot, which is so judiciously contrived as to make him pick them both up alike.

_The best way to discover Lameness_ is to have the horse rode so as to be heated; let him then be put into the stable till he get cool, when take him out for another trot, and examine again.

They sometimes bring Horses for trial, heated, by which many bad qualities and defects are concealed; dull Horses are animated, while the vicious pass as mere mettlesome; with many other disadvantages to the Purchasers, endless to mention. The best way is to get to the Dealer’s _early_ in the Morning, before you are expected, and you will so find out more defects than any other way.

If the Horse be heated, let him be turned into the Stable till he gets cool; go up to him by yourself--examine him--observe his general manners, and, above all, to judge of his Temper watch his Eye:--a Horse never plays a vicious trick, or thinks of one, without shewing his intention to do so by his Eye;--study the Eye of a Horse during the usual operations of the Stable, and you will be enabled to form some opinion of his Temper and Disposition.

The following account was given to me by a friend who has had great experience in Horses:

“There can be no doubt that a vicious Horse is to be known by his Eye:--I took a Horse to Mr. Professor Colman, at the Veterinary College, St. Pancras, to be examined previous to purchasing;--he had on a water-deck, the Day being Wet; the wind caused it to flap against his sides, and he reared and plunged most violently. Mr. COLMAN, whose Judgment respecting Horses I had previously repeatedly consulted with the greatest advantage, after looking at him for a few minutes, decidedly pronounced him to be a Vicious Horse. I begged Mr. C. to tell me whether he judged so from his plunging occasioned by what is mentioned: he said No, from his Eye; he was constantly trying to look back:--however, I bought the Horse; and sure enough the Professor’s prognostic was perfectly true--he was decidedly vicious! the very next day he attempted a grand go at kicking and plunging, and did great damage to my Carriage.”

For the following Advice, we are indebted to as Honest a Man as any that deals in Horse-Flesh.

“I have found many persons who have purchased Horses of me, very inquisitive and troublesome about their Eyes; indeed, as much so as if their Eyes were any way concerned in the action of the Animal. As I know they are not, I give myself very little trouble about them:--if a Rider is in full possession of his own, what his Horse has is perfectly immaterial.

“Be sure to buy a _Broken-knee’d Horse_, whenever he falls in your way: the best bit of flesh that ever was crossed will certainly come down one day or another; whereas, one that has fallen, (and sacrificed himself pretty much,) never will fall again, if he can help it.

“Buy any thing but a _Threatener_. By the Threatener, Man himself, the Lord of the Creation, who subdues all the Animals that range the Forest, is himself kept in fear and trepidation!--This ingenious Animal has the sagacity, at every step, to threaten the fracture of his Rider’s neck, probably with a view to abolish the practice of Riding; but has, at the same time, the good sense not to fall quite down, lest he should accidentally break his own. As amongst Pigeons, so amongst Horses, there are _Tumblers_: the feat is, however, performed differently, and varies a little in its effects on the performers: the Pigeon executes it without any thing on its back; the Horse seldom achieves it without somebody upon his. To the latter, therefore, we must give the greatest share of merit, who ventures to perform upon a hard Road what the other does only in the Air, without even a cloud to brush against. The one seeming to prefer the Milky, and the other the Highway.”--See the Duke of Newcastle on _Horses_; Lord Pembroke on _Breaking Horses_, &c. 12mo. 1761; Mr. Berenger’s _Art of Horsemanship_; and Dr. Bracken and Mr. Gibson’s Books.

See a Comprehensive Abstract of the various Acts of Parliament relative to “_Stealing Horses_,” “_Buying Stolen Horses_,” “_Killing or Maiming Horses_,” &c. in p. 1046 of the Second Volume of Sir George Chetwynd’s comprehensive Edition of Dr. Burn’s Justice, 8vo. 1825.

TO PRESERVE

THE

HEALTH OF HORSES.

The methods of treating and keeping Horses are as various, and, for the generality, as inconsistent with reason as those of Shoeing are; but a little consideration would, in most common cases, direct people right in both. One pampers his Cattle, with a view of strengthening them; and afterwards, by way of correction, pours down Drugs into them without thought or measure:--Another lets no Air at all into his Stable; and his Horses inevitably catch cold when they stir out of it, and get Fevers if they stay in it, by corrupted Air:--a Third, equally wise, leaves his Stable open, and his Cattle exposed to the wind and weather at all times, whether his horses or the weather be hot or cold, and frequently even in wind drafts, while they are in a sweat.

All these practices are alike attended with destruction to Horses; as also are the many extravagances that prevail in the same contradictory extremes, with regard to Coverings. But in answer to all these foolish systems, reason plainly suggests to us, that proper wholesome Food, a well tempered circulation of sweet Air, moderate and constant Exercise, with due care and suitable clothing, as weather and occasions may require, will never fail to preserve Horses sound and in health.

No Vulgar Error is more common, than that Horses cannot continue well, unless they are periodically Bled, Purged, and crammed with _Cordial Balls_, &c.

_After a very Hard day’s Work_, give him a couple of Gallons of _Gruel_, made by putting a Quart of Oatmeal into a pail, stir it together with a little cold water, then add the proper quantity of boiling water, half a Gallon of good Strong Ale, and two Wine-glasses of Brandy: this the old Fox-hunter will tell you is better than all the _Cordial Balls_ that were ever composed. In cases of Emergency, when a Horse is distressed, a Quart of Mulled Beer; or, in an extreme Case, a Bottle of Wine, will refresh him like a charm.

The following is Squire _Tallyho’s_ advice respecting Physic:--

The Day after a hard Run, on inquiring how his Horses were, his Groom replied, “They are pretty well; but I think, Sir, that a little Physic would do them good.”--“Why,” said the Squire, “would you give them Physic? Do they Eat well, and Drink Well, and Sleep well?”--“Yes, Sir.”--“Well then, what good do you expect to do by giving them Physic? You don’t take Physic yourself when you are Well, do you, Tom?”--“No, Sir.”--“Then why give it to a Horse?”

To prevent Diseases and preserve the Health of Horses, there is seldom occasion for Bleeding, Purging, or any other Physicking, &c., if a proper attention be paid to procure them,

1st. Sufficiently spacious and well-aired Stables: at the bottom of each Stall there should be, rather beyond the centre, a Grating, so that the Stable may always be dry; the Litter will last longer, and the Stable be sweet and wholesome.

“In Russia, and other Northern Countries, Horses lie on boards without inconvenience, from which it would appear a great saving might be made if our own stalls were provided with frames for Horses to lie on without a litter. They may be constructed in the following manner:--Suppose the stall to be 6 feet wide and 9 feet long, then eight deal boards eight inches wide, nailed one inch apart to three or more ledges about two or three inches deep should be prepared for each stall. The Horse will lie dry, what falls must be swept off, and the frame turned up by day. Thus all the litter will be saved, and the straw, reed, or fern, be given for food. The frame will, probably, not cost more than the straw used for litter in a season. The boards will be very little injured, and may afterwards be applied to common purposes.

“HENRY PENNECK, M.D. A.L.S.
“Penzance, July 30, 1826.”
(_From the Dublin Courier._)

_Cleanliness in a Stable_ is extremely important: let the Mangers be well washed once a Week, and wipe down the Stalls, and whitewash it once a year.

Let the Horse Cloths be scoured at the same time--it preserves the Cloths, and prevents the Moths getting into them.

When it is considered that Saddle or Coach-horses, on an average, pass at least 20 out of every 24 hours, or full five-sixths of their time in the Stable: the importance of keeping that as clean as possible, is evident enough without further Argument. _The Stalls_ should not be less than six feet in the clear width.

2d. Allow them plenty of wholesome Food and Drink, in proportion to the Work required of them, due Exercise when they are not at Work, and good Rubbing and Dressing twice or thrice every day--“It is regular Feeding and Dressing which maketh Horses fat and Healthy, not the mere great abundance and rest alone which maketh plump. A man need not much trouble himself to inquire after Physic for this purpose: upon my word, there is no other Secret to perform this, but to observe a methodical manner of Feeding and Dressing.”--_Sollysell’s Compleat Horseman_, fol. page 138. 1717.

The last thing at Night, give to those _Horses that are very Lean_, about a couple of Quarts of Wetted Bran, over and above their ordinary allowance of Oats, &c.--a double handful of _Cinquefoil_, cut into Chaff, is given by an experienced Stable-man, who was consulted in forming this work.

_In Exercising Horses_, the farther they are carried from home the better; _i. e._ take them four or five miles out and back, and never go twice one road if you can avoid it: a Horse will perform his work more cheerfully, and it breaks his temper to go different roads.

Have them out by Six in the Morning, and give them two hours’ Exercise; walk them till you get to a nice bit of even ground, and then give them a good trot or a Canter for a quarter of an hour, but never gallop them hard.

Never gallop Horses that you are training for Hunting--their Master can always take enough out of their Legs when they are in the Field.

Never let a Horse be hard ridden when he has just had his belly-full of meat or water; but let him move in his own way: he will mend his pace by degrees.

DRESSING OR GROOMING.

There are three Intentions answered by Dressing Horses; it cleans them from dust and dirt; it counteracts the artificial state of inactivity they are occasionally under by their confinement, by exciting the Circulation; and lastly, it gives a sleekness to their Coat. Grooms usually consider only the latter intention; and as Dressing requires some labour, they idly resort to such means as produce a smooth coat without Exertion; and this, Experience tells them, is best effected by Hot Stables: Idleness is the origin of this deviation from Nature; but to make their masters allow these Hot-House Stables, Grooms tell them that they improve the Health of the Horse.

TO MAKE

A HORSE HAVE A FINE COAT.

[From the Duke of Newcastle’s Book, fol. p. 123. 1677.]

“There are but these Four things; viz. _Feeding Well_, _Clothing Warmly_, _Many Sweats, and Dressing Well_.

“For _Dressing_, there are these _Things_: the _Curry Comb_, which fetches out Dust; the _Dusting Cloth_, that takes away the _Loose Dust_; the _Hard Wisp_, a little moistened, that takes out _More Dust_ yet from him; and the Felt, a little moistened, that takes out _More Dust_ from him afterwards; but the _Wett Hand_, which should be last, takes not only _More Dust_, but a great deal of Loose Hair, which is much better than any of the Former:--after this, a _Linen Cloth_ to wipe them over, and then a Woollen Cloth, and so cloathe him up.

“But the Best of all is the _Knife of Heat_, which is the Scraper; for when he is Hot, Scraping of him gets all the _Sweat_ and _Moysture_ out of him, so that he is _Dry_ presently after, and all that _Wett_ would turn to _Dust_, so there is so much Labour saved. Besides, it gets abundance of Hair from him, which the rest doth not; so that it is the most Excellent thing I know, both to Cool a Horse, and to give him a _Good Coat_.”

“If a fine Coat is wanted, it may be easily enough procured by proper _Dressing_.”--_Dr. Blaine on Horses_, 12mo. p. 142. 1803.

“Much rubbing (saith Old G. Markham) is comfortable, and cheereth every member.”--_G. Markham’s Way to Wealth_, 4to. p. 10. 1638.

“When a Horse is well Drest, his Sweat, when he is Warm, will come from him clear as Water; but the first time he be well Drest, it will take near Three hours to do it thoroughly--afterwards one hour a day may be sufficient.”

MEM. It is as necessary to rub their Backs as it is to fill their Bellies.

ON THE

FOOD OF HORSES.

Horses _must be Fed in proportion to their Work_--they must not be kept to certain regular Feeds, unless they are kept to certain regular Work, or Disease will soon overtake them, and Death end them full Gallop.

_Our English Cavalry_, the labour of which is about equal to that of a Coach Horse in a Private Carriage, are allowed 14 lb. of _Hay_, and 10 lb. of _Oats_ per Day. Government contracts for Oats to weigh 40 lb. to the Bushel, so that it is a Peck per Day.

To the French Cavalry in Garrison, they distribute the Allowance, and fix the hours of Feeding in the following manner:

_At Five_ o’Clock in the Morning, a third part of Hay.

_At Eight_ o’Clock, a half allowance of Oats, and afterwards a third of Straw.

_At Mid-day_, a third of Hay.

_At Three_ o’Clock, a half allowance of Oats, and afterwards a third of Straw.

_At Seven_ o’Clock in the Evening, a third of Hay, and a third of Straw.

“_Horses are Watered_ half an hour before receiving the Oats; consequently, twice a day during the hot weather, and their Thirst quenched again in the Evening.”--From p. 132 and 133 of _Mr. R. de Rochefort’s Promenades à Cheval_. Paris, 16mo. 1826.

_Blundevill_, in his Order of Dieting Horses, 4to. 1609, p. 10, says, “that half a Peck of Oates, or as much as a Man can easily take up at six times with both his hands together, is enough to give a Horse at once.”

_For Carriage Horses_ employed in the usual Town work, sixteen to twenty pounds of sound meadow _Hay_, with from three quarters to a Peck of good full _Oats_, per Day, will be sufficient:--should Frost, or other circumstances, lessen their labour, their Food should be lessened also, and a small proportion of _Bran_ substituted; on the other hand, when their Exercise is severe, the allowance of _Corn_ should be increased; to which, when they are worked very hard, a few _Beans_ are an invigorating addition; a great quantity of _Hay_ is not good, except for Cart Horses, who are meant for no other use but to roll on slowly, with a fat fellow full of Beer swaggering beside them.

_Lord Pembroke’s_ plan of feeding Horses, especially Old ones, with bruised Corn, and Chaff, is to be recommended--“Every grain then goes to nourishment, and Three feeds go further, than Four, as commonly given.”

Although a horse has but a short Stomach, he has Long Bowels:--_Dr. Bracken_ tells us, that “the length of the Alimentary Canal of a Horse is seldom less than 35 Yards: He must, therefore, feed a little at a time; and as we know that when our own Stomach is empty, we feel languid, so does the Horse--and as a small Stomach must be soon emptied, it requires to be frequently replenished.”

A Horse should have Four feeds in a Day, the first about Six in the Morning, the next at Eleven, again at Four, and the last thing at Night:--of these, Supper and Breakfast should be the Best; the intermediate Eating should be at about Noon, and four or five hours after: in the intervening time, let his Rack and Manger be empty, then when he comes to his meal he will eat with an appetite whatever you give him.

Make it a Rule, to give your Horses their Food two hours before you put them to Work--that the first act of the restorative process of Digestion may be finished before they are disturbed.

_Young Horses_, that have not done growing, have strong Appetites, and require to be more fully fed than those that have come to Maturity, but not so much Corn;--Bran, and Clover Hay. Chaff damped, will occasionally do for them better--Young Horses, like Young Children, require their Food in Quantity rather than Quality, and the lighter it is the better.

SOFT WATER is to be preferred; the condition of a Horse’s Coat depends much on the quality of the Water that he drinks--very cold and hard water will break his Coat directly.

A Cavalry Officer informed me, that, observing One Troop in his Regiment in much finer condition than the rest, he found, on inquiry, that it was occasioned by the Horses of that Troop drinking _Soft_ water, while the others had _Hard_ water.

HAY

Varies quite as much in Quality, as it does in Price--_Clover_ grass is, by some, considered to be the best; whence the Proverb, “_to Live in Clover_.”

The Nose is your best guide in the choice of Hay. _Good hard Hay_ has a quick and agreeable smell:--it is of great importance that Hay be good; if it is not, let a Horse eat as much as he will of it, he will be low and poor.

I am told that there is a great deception practised in Hay Markets: they take care that those Trusses in the Cart which are likely to be examined are good; but the main bulk of the Load is not always of equally good quality.

The Reader is recommended to deal regularly with the same Farmer, as the best security against the deceptions which it is said are sometimes practised in Markets.

When a Buyer endeavours to bate a Seller down below the regular market price, it may tempt a Seller to make himself amends, by putting up some Trusses of inferior Quality, if not of short Weight also.--Say to your Hay-salesman, “Now mind, I buy this as a load of Good Hay, and I shall not pay for it till I have unloaded it and found it all right.”

The fresher _Hay_ is cut from the Stack the better: it soon turns soft and musty in a damp Hayloft, and in the course of a few weeks loses all its best Qualities.

Never lay Trusses of Hay upon each other: the best way to keep Hay from Damp and Moulding, is to set it up on its edge--so that a current of Air may circulate round it.

Go to Market in good time;--if you wait till your Stock is quite out, you must buy what you can.

BEANS

are only needful when Horses have a great deal of hard work, and in Wet weather.

BRIEFLY, AS TO HORSE-MEAT.

Hay is _Horse-Bread_.

Corn--_Horse-Mutton_.

Beans--_Horse-Beef_:

And the most strengthening substance that can be given them.

_Good Bran_ is a useful article in a Horse’s diet, and when Scalded, with a handful of Salt to it, is occasionally as good a Mash for a Horse as a Mess of Gruel is for a Man.

A Truss of _Hay_ should weigh 56 lbs.

A Truss of _Straw_, 36 lbs.

A Truss of _New Hay_, 60 lbs.

_A Ton_ and _a Load_ of Hay are nearly the same.

If you send a Servant to purchase Provisions, &c. for your Horses, at least choose the Purveyor yourself, and tell your Servant previously to bring you _the Price_, (in writing), with the Samples of the various things.

Desire each Tradesman to send home with each Article, whether you pay Ready Money for it, or otherwise, “_A Ticket of the Quantity and the Price of it_,” of which carefully ascertain the correctness.

_Cast up every Bill,_

_Pay every Account Yourself,_

_and_

_Take care of your Receipts._

These are your only effective protections against those ruinous Impositions which perfunctory Persons continually suffer, from combinations between their Servants and their Purveyors.

ON

SENDING HORSES TO GRASS.

Delicate Horses who have been treated over tenderly, and have long stood warmly clothed in a hot Stable, must not be all at once turned out to Grass in cold Weather.

A Horse must have “the Constitution of a Horse” indeed, who can stand such a shock; for which, he should be gradually prepared by diminishing his Clothing, and gradually accustoming him to the Open Air;

“for one Extreme,
Ne’er without Danger meets its own reverse.”

Let him be well fed till the day that he is turned out, on which give him nothing; then he will graze the greatest part of the Night;--_if you turn him out with a full Belly, he will lay down, and most likely catch a mischievous Cold._

When Horses are sent to Straw-Yard or to Grass, let their Shoes be removed, and their Feet set at liberty--Toe-pieces are sometimes put on.

_Early Spring Grass_, for five weeks in May and June, is not only excellent Food, but admirable Physic for Horses;--_Dr. Green_ cures most of the Disorders that Horses are subject to, sooner than any.

Strong Horses frequently fall a sacrifice to Diseases, by being kept continually upon hard dry food, which feeding on soft Green herbage for a few weeks would frequently cure sooner than any Physic.

It is recommended, that Horses in the Stable should occasionally have _Green Meat_, viz. Rye, or Tares, &c. which are carried about London in Carts during the Spring, &c.

A Horse will get fresher, by having a Run in a _Salt Marsh_ for One Month, such as at Plaistow, or the Isle of Dogs, &c. than he will in Two Months on Upland Grass.

“I have been told that it is no unusual thing to take up Horses from the Marshes, and send them on a long Journey directly, without any preparation; and am the more ready to believe this, because I have several times known Horses taken off the dry Commons in Winter, and perform very well on the Road:--it is quite otherwise with those that go on common Pastures, either in cold clay grounds, or where the Grass is forced with Dung: many of these require a good deal of management before they are fit to be put on hard service.”

Fields which lie near to Great Towns, and are much manured, do not afford half such wholesome Hay or Pasture as those that are further in the Country, and are not so forced. _Mr. Jarvis_ says that he would not thank ye for the Hay that is made within 10 miles of London. The loads of Dung may make the Ground yield a more plentiful crop, but it is always of an inferior, and often of injurious Quality.

Send your Horses to Grass where _the Pasture_ is fine without being forced, where the _Water_ is good, and there is comfortable _Shelter_ for them to run to in Wet Weather: they should always have Hay to go to, especially in Winter. You may be charged a trifle per Week more for this; but it is Money well spent, if you value your Horse.

_When a Horse returns from Grass_, although he may be free from Disease, he is not fittest for Work; but will require a Week’s hard Food, and must have Hay and Corn, and be gradually Exercised for several days before he be put to Hard Work, or he will be apt to empty himself too often, and is no Horse for a long Journey--unless you wish to make a Skeleton of him.

COLDS.

Young _Horses_ are much more liable to Colds than those that are full grown.

_The most common cause of Colds_ is riding or driving Horses till they are Hot, and then suffering them to stand still where the Air is cold and chilling.--Another very usual cause of Colds is removing a Horse out of a Hot Stable to a Cold one:--a Cold taken this way will be more violent, in the degree that a Horse has been highly fed and hotly clothed: this is the reason why many Horses catch such very severe Colds soon after they come out of a Dealer’s hands.--New-built Stables, before they have been well aired and seasoned, and even Old Stables, when they have stood long empty and grown damp, are dangerous to tender Horses, that have been kept warm.

WHEN A HORSE HAS CAUGHT A COLD,

for his Diet let him have the sweetest and best Hay, and scalded Bran and Water, with the chill taken off;--for his Physic, the following prescription: let him be prepared for it (if his Disorder permits) the two preceding days by some feeds of scalded Bran, which will render its operation not only more easy, but more effective:--for those Horses that have a narrow swallow, or that take Balls reluctantly, let the Ball be dissolved in a pint of Ale or Gruel, made just milk-warm.

HORSE BALLS

should be made into an Oval shape, and not exceed the size of a pullet’s Egg; when the dose is large, they may be made into two: they should be dipped in Oil, that they may slip down with ease; for striving much in thrusting down Balls, greatly increases a Horse’s antipathy to such things, and renders it troublesome to administer them.

PURGING BALL.

Take Soccotrine Aloes, six drachms;
Castile Soap, three drachms;
Grated Ginger, one drachm;
Oil of Caraway, twenty drops;
Syrup sufficient to make it into a Ball, which may be
rolled in Flour.

This will answer all the purpose of Physic for Horses whose intestines are not extremely idle, for whom a drachm of Jalap may be added, which will seldom fail operating effectually.

_The best time to give a Horse Physic_, is about 5 or 6 o’Clock in the Evening: it will then begin to operate about Noon the next day, and sometimes it will move the Bowels in the Morning.

About three or four hours after, a Horse should have a feed of scalded Bran: when he has eaten that up, he should have a small portion of Sweet Hay let down into his Rack. He may have one or two more feeds of scalded Bran the same day; and if he refuses to eat warm meat, which some Horses will loathe that have been cloyed with it before, he may be allowed raw Bran, which, if he drink sufficiently with it, will do the business perfectly well. Let his drink be made milk-warm, with a handful of Bran squeezed in it; but if he refuse to drink white water freely, let him have it without the Bran, for his Physic will always work the more, the more kindly he drinks, which let him do of warm water as much as he will. Early the next morning, he may have another small feed of scalded Bran; but if he does not choose to Eat, which sometimes happens before the Physic has begun to work, while his stomach is squeamish, let him Drink as much water as he cares for, with the Chill taken off, and ride him gently, beginning with a Walk, and afterwards a gentle trot, which will help the operation of his Medicine.--_Gibson on Horses_, 4to. p. 129. 1751.

FOR CRACKED OR SORE HEELS.

To cure these, there is nothing better than the _Zinc Ointment_ of the last Pharmacopœia of the London College of Physicians.

At night wash the Heels clean first, and then rub in a little of the Ointment with your fingers, and tie a bit of linen rag round it. Take it off when he goes out. On his return home, wash his Heels, and repeat the above application. In ten days or a fortnight it will effect a complete cure, if your Horse be in good Health.

For Cracked Heels, the following is recommended:--

Take Soap Liniment, an ounce and a half;
Camphorated Spirit, an ounce;
Oil of Turpentine, half an ounce.

Mix.

DIURETIC BALLS FOR SWELLED HEELS, ETC.

Take Yellow Resin, one pound;
Yellow Soap, and
Nitre, in powder, each twelve ounces;
Ginger, in powder, four ounces;
Oil of Juniper, a quarter of an ounce.

Melt the Resin and Soap in a pan over a slow fire:
when dissolved, stir in the other articles. One ounce and
a half for a Dose, to be given about twice a Week.

_London Carriage Horses_ frequently fail in their Health about October and November, which the administration of this medicine will speedily restore.

STABLES.

There are few instances of the Ornamental triumphing over the Useful in a more ridiculous degree, even in this _Age of Eye-Architecture_,[25] than in the usual management of _Horses_, which some people seem to suppose are as fond of Heat as Crickets. I have almost wondered that Stables have not been furnished with Stoves to keep them of a regular Pine Apple heat: this might improve the appearance of a Horse’s Coat: the fineness and smoothness of which seems to be the grand desideratum.

Providence has protected the Horse with a coat of Hair sufficient to defend him from the inclemencies of the severest Climate, which Providentially begins to grow thicker about the month of October, and increases in thickness as the Cold to which he is exposed increases.

But it is the Fashion at present to fancy that his Stable and Clothing cannot be too close: in fact, many Horses are treated like Hot-house Plants, and thereby rendered so delicate and tender, that they are morbidly susceptible of all that vast train of complaints which are caused by what is called

“CATCHING COLD.”

The Door is generally the only entrance for Air, and that only when it is occasionally open: the very threshhold of the Door is frequently stopped up with Dung, and the Key-hole filled with Straw. In the Morning, when the Door has been shut all Night, especially in Summer, the heat is intolerable, and the Air absolutely unfit to breathe. It is surprising that these poor creatures are not oftener found stifled by the steams from their own bodies:--added to this, they are perhaps muffled up in thick and tight Body Clothes.

“_In Summer_ a single Sheet is fully sufficient for a _Horse Cloth_, and in Winter, one Woollen Cloth is all that is requisite. Neither Hacks nor Hunters should have _Head Cloths or Breast Cloths_, which, though ornamental, are something worse than useless, for they keep a part, while at rest, warm, which, as soon as the Horse gets out, is the part that most meets the Cold Air, and is most exposed.”

Hot-House Horses suffer severe Rheumatisms, &c. upon every trifling occasion:--a change of Stable--a Shower of Rain--standing still for a little while in the open air, produce a variety of Disorders, Lameness, Stiffness in their Joints, &c. &c.: in attempting to remove which, after they have been tormented by cramping Shoes and Pailsful of Physic, &c., the poor creatures are pronounced incurable, and given over as “Foundered in the Chest,” or “Shook in the Shoulders,” or some such equally unintelligible Jargon.

“Till at last, having labour’d, drudg’d, early and late,
Bow’d down by degrees, he bends on to his fate;
Blind, old, lean, and feeble, he tugs round a Mill,
Or draws sand till the sand of his hour Glass stands still.”
_Dibdin’s Race Horse._

To cover a Horse with heavy Clothes while he is in a hot Stable, and to strip him stark naked when he goes out into the Cold Air, is, I think, as absurd a custom as can easily be imagined!--Gentle Reader, how would You like to have your Great Coat put on while sitting by your Fire-side in your Snug Parlour, which is of the comfortable temperature of 60, and have it pulled off when you went out, and were obliged to stand two or three hours with a cold wind blowing upon you of a chilling temperature of 40, and perhaps Raining hard into the bargain?

Such treatment is as uncomfortable to a Horse as it would be to a Man; and is the cause of the otherwise unaccountable premature mortality of these valuable animals, especially of our London Carriage Horses, which are often kept standing still exposed to the open air in cold and damp weather for hours together!

When Carriage Horses are taken out in Wet Weather, they should have _Water Decks_ over their Loins, and be kept moving about every ten minutes.

Where the ceiling of a Stable is low, and there is no window, the best way to ventilate it is by a funnel passing up through the Stable Ceiling, and through that of the Loft above.

Stables should be aired every day by keeping the Doors and Windows open during the absence of the Horses. Experience teaches us how agreeable, and indeed how indispensable fresh Air is in our own Apartments: it is equally so to Horses; and one would almost suppose that Persons who neglect to give it them never enjoyed the benefit of fresh Air themselves.

As good _Master George Markham_ tells us, in his Way to Wealth, 4to., 1638, p. 9, “_Coach Horses_, by reason of their many occasions to stand still, must be inured to all Hardnesse.”

Never let Carriage Horses be clothed while in the Stable, but desire your Coachman to carry their _Body Clothes_ with him, and put them on when they have a waiting Job, as he does his own _Box Coat_;--the former will be as comfortable to his Horses, as the latter is to himself.

A Coachman should make it a Rule (especially when he finds it cold enough to put on his Great Coat) every quarter of an hour to move his Horses about a little, and to draw round some Corner, so as to get out of the Wind. It is not so much their being long out of Doors, but their long standing quite still in a current of Cold Air, that injures Horses.

See more on this subject in the Chapter on Coachmen.

MANAGEMENT OF HORSES

IN

CASE OF FIRE.

When a Fire happens, such is the natural dread of the horse, that he cannot be prevailed on to move out of danger, but remains to his certain destruction.

In this alarming case, it has been recommended, and practised with success, (the opportunity of a few minutes offering,) to _blind_ the horses with any cloths which can be suddenly laid hold on, and a Bridle or Halter also being put on, to _back_ them out; for when these animals see or smell fire, they obstinately refuse to move forwards, but may be forced backward.

HINTS TO HORSEMEN.

If you do not wish your Horse to catch cold, Mount him the moment he comes out of the Stable.

“_The Stirrups_,” says Lord Pembroke, in his Essay on Horses, 12mo. 1761, pp. 18 and 19, “must be of just such length, that when the Rider, being well placed, puts his feet into them (about one-third of each foot from the point of it) the point may be about two or three inches higher than the heel when the Rider places himself upon the Saddle strait, even, upright and well with his Legs hanging down, and the stirrups likewise; and when he is in this position, take up the stirrup, till the bottom of it comes just under the Ankle bone. The Rider must not bear upon his Stirrups, but only let the natural weight of his legs rest upon them.”

Always ride a hole or two shorter across the Country, than you do on the Road.

Ride with a Snaffle, and use your Curb only occasionally.

Choose your Snaffle full and thick in the middle, especially at the ends to which the reins are fastened. Most of them are made too small and long, and cut the Horse’s mouth, and bend back over the bars of his jaw, working like pincers.

If you ride with _a Curb_, make it a rule to hook on the chain yourself; the quietest Horse may bring his rider into danger, should the curb hurt him.

If in fixing the curb you turn the chain to the right, the links will unfold themselves, and then oppose a further turning. Put on the chain loose enough to hang down on the Horse’s under lip, so that it may not rise and press his jaw till the reins of the Bridle are moderately pulled.

Observe that your Horse is furnished with a Bit proper for him, and by no means too heavy, which may incline him to carry low, or to rest upon the hand when he grows weary, which Horsemen call “Making use of a Fifth Leg.”

Always endeavour to avoid a Quarrel with your Horse:--if he is apt to Start, you will find occasions enough to exercise his obedience when what he starts at lies directly in his way, and you must make him pass: if he is not subject to start, do not contend with him about a trifle.

The notion of the necessity of making a Horse go immediately up to every thing he is afraid of, and not suffer him to become master of his rider, seems to be generally carried too far. It is an approved method to conquer a Horse’s fear of the sound of a Drum, by beating one near to him at the time of feeding him: this not only familiarises the noise to him, but makes it pleasant, as a forerunner of his Meat; whereas, if he was whipped up to it, he might perhaps start at it as long as he lived. Might not this be applied to his starting at other things, and shew that it would be better to suffer him (provided he does not turn back) to go a little from, and partly avoid an object he has a dislike to, and to accustom him to it by degrees, convincing him, as it were, that it will not hurt him, than to punish him, quarrel with him, and perhaps submit to his will at last, while you insist on his overcoming his fear in an instant? If he sees a like object again, it is probable he will recollect his dread, and arm himself to be disobedient.

“Now of _Corrections_, the most principal is _the Spur_, which must not at anytime be given triflingly or itchingly, but soundly and sharply, as oft as just occasion shall require: then, the Rod, which upon disorder, sloth, or miscarriage, of the members, must be given also soundly: then, the Voice, which being delivered sharply and roughly, as _Ha, Villaine!_--_Carrikra!_--_Diablo!_--and such like threatenings, terrifieth the Horse, and maketh him afraide to disobey: and lastly, the Bridle which now and then stricken with a hard chocke in his mouth, reformeth many vices and distemperatures of his head: yet this last must be done seldome, and with great discretion, for to make a custom thereof is the ready way to spoil a Horse’s mouth.”

“Now of _Cherishings_ there are generally in use but three; as first, the voice, which being delivered smoothly and lovingly, as crying _Holla_--_So, boy_--_There, Boy, There_--and such like, gives the Horse both a cheerfulnesse of Spirit and a knowledge that he hath done well: then the hand, by clapping him gently on the necke or buttocke, or giving him Grasse or other foode to eate after he hath pleased you: and lastly, the big ende of the rod, by rubbing him therewith upon the withers or maine, which is very pleasing and delightful to the horse.”--_Markham’s Way to Wealth_, 4to. 1638. p. 16.

“The Hope of Reward, and the Fear of Punishment, governs the whole World, not only Men, but Horses; for it is impossible that you can well manage your Horse until he fear you, and out of that fear, Love and Obey you; for it is Fear maketh every body obey both Man and Beast. _Love is not so sure a Hold_, for there you depend upon his Will; but when he Fears you, he depends upon yours.”--_Soleysell’s Horsemanship_, fol. 1717. p. 272.

_Old Blundevill_, in his 24th Chapter of his Book on Horses, 4to. 1609. p. 22, gives the following advice:--

“But because few keepers can correct with discretion, I would wish him rather to use no correction at all, but only to winne him by gentle meanes, by faire speaking, and by often clawing him and feeding him by hand, and in Summer season, by wiping away Flies,[26] Nats, or other things that doth annoy him: so shall the Horse be alwayes glad of him, and rejoice in his presence, and in time become so familiar, as he will play with him like a dog; for, truely, unless there be mutual Lore betwixt the keeper and the horse, the horse seldom or never battleth; for if the keeper love not his horse, he will never meat him thoroughly nor delight to dresse him, nor will the horse be delighted with his dressing. And, therefore, the chiefest point of a horsekeeper is to love his horse and to seeke to be loved againe of him; so shall he profit the Horse and pleasure his Maister.”

_Before you mount your Horse_, if you are only going to take an Airing, examine whether the Bridle, Girths, and Straps, &c. are all good and well fixed, and that he is properly Shod.

“For want of a Nail the Shoe is lost,
For want of a Shoe the Horse is lost.”

Direct that neither the Heel nor Frog be pared more than merely to take off what is ragged and broken. It is still more safe to do that yourself, or direct your Coachman to do it, than to trust it to a Farrier or Shoemaker, notwithstanding the Gentleman may have written over his Door, “Here Horses are shod agreeable to Nature and according to Art.”

Fit the _Shoe_ to the Foot, and not the _Foot_ to the Shoe.

ON THE

ROUGH-SHODDING OF HORSES

IN

FROSTY WEATHER.

It is manifest, that a considerable increase of pressure on the Heels naturally follows--so that Lameness frequently attends the practice of Frosting even for a short time.

The ordinary method of Frosting is by taking a Shoe off, heating it, and turning up the Heel and Toe; but this being Iron only, it lasts, for any efficient purpose, but a short time; and if hard worked, the same process must be repeated almost daily, as long as the Frost continues.

It is evident that the Hoof must suffer most severely by such a continued and repeated perforation with the Nails; so that if a Frost should happen to last a Month or two, it is probable there would be scarcely horn enough left to nail a Shoe on with safety. When Frosting is required, I have found that by _Steeling the Heels_, and if a Draft Horse, the Toes also, that they will last considerably longer, and consequently diminish the frequency of Driving Nails. A much shorter Rough will answer, and the usual head will not need to be so much altered.--_Goodwin on Shoeing Horses_, 8vo. p. 280. 1824.

The usual charge for Roughing the Shoes of Coach Horses, is 2_s._ 8_d._ per Horse.

To perform the operation so sensibly recommended by Mr. Goodwin, will cost but little more, and the Shoes will certainly last much longer.

_Mr. T. Clark_ recommends the following plan:--

“When the Roads, &c. are covered with Ice, it becomes necessary to have the Heels of the Shoes turned up, and frequently sharpened, in order to prevent Horses from slipping and falling. As this cannot be done without the frequent moving of the Shoes, which breaks and destroys the crusts of the Hoofs where the Nails are drove, to prevent this, I have always recommended to those who were willing to be at the expense, to have _Steel Points_ screwed into the Heels or quarters of each Shoe, which might be taken out and put in as required.

“The method of doing this properly, is first to have the Shoes fitted to the shape of the Hoof; then to make a small round Hole in the extremity of each heel, or in the quarters, about three-eighths of an inch in diameter or more, in proportion to the breadth and size of the Shoe: in each of these holes a screw is to be made: the Steel points are likewise to have a screw on them exactly fitted to that in the Shoes. Care must be taken that the Screw on the points is no longer when they are screwed into the Shoe than the thickness of the latter. The Steel points are to be made sharp; they may either be made square or triangular. The height of the point above the Shoe should not exceed half an inch for a Saddle Horse: they may be made higher for a Coach Horse.

“The Key or Handle that is necessary to screw them in and out occasionally, is made in the shape of the Capital letter T, and of a sufficient size and strength: at the bottom of the handle there is a socket or cavity, properly adapted to the shape of the Steel point, and so deep as to receive the whole point that is above the Shoe. In order to prevent the screw from breaking at the neck, it will be necessary to make it of a gradual taper: the same is likewise to be observed of the female screw that receives it; that is, the hole must be wider on the upper part of the Shoe than the under part: the sharp points may be tempered or hardened, in order to prevent them growing too soon blunt; but when they become blunt, they may be sharpened as at first. These points should be unscrewed when the Horse is put into the Stable, as the Stones will do them more injury in a few minutes there, than a day’s riding on Ice. A Draught Horse should have one point on the Toe of each Shoe, as that gives him firmer footing in drawing on ice; but for a Saddle Horse, when they are put there, they are apt to make them trip and stumble.”

OF THE

COMPARATIVE EXPENSE AND ADVANTAGE

OF

HIRING

A HACKNEY COACH. KEEPING
A PRIVATE CARRIAGE.
1. A Hackney Coach, for 1. A Private Carriage
the business of the moment, costs (see Estimate No. IV.)
to rest your Legs, or shelter £345 PER ANNUM, _i. e._
you from the Weather, may 6900 shillings a Year.
be had for the ¹⁄₆₉₀₀th part
of the Annual Expense of a
Private Carriage. Think o’
that, ye Lame and ye Languid!
for ye are the Grand
Patrons of Ponies, Perches,
Whips, and Wheels--Bless
your Stars that you are in a
Country where, although it
costs _Three Thousand Four
Hundred and Fifty Shillings_
to keep a Coach for Half a
Year, that you can Hire one
for Half an Hour, for _Twelve
Pence_! which you may command
in all respects as absolutely
as if it was your
own.

2. A Hackney Coach is 2. Your own Horses and
almost always to be had in Carriage cannot be brought
a few Minutes, except in the round in less than 25 minutes
lamentable instance of a after you order
pelting shower. it: even if it and the
Harness are all clean and
ready, an active Coachman
cannot dress himself and put
to in less time,--and Your
Own Coachman may be
Ill,--or not ready for
Action,--Your Horses may be
Sick,--or your Carriage
may be broken:--moreover,
if that prime minister of the
machinery of Locomotion
has not previous notice that
you will want the Wheels to
go round, if he is not a
marvellously steady Man, it is
an even chance, that, making
sure you will not require
his services, he will imagine
he may emigrate from his
Hay-Loft with impunity,
and be frisking about after
his own Affairs.