THE HORSE FOR WORK OR PIJOIASURE VINTON'S COONTK'f SERIE; JOHNA.SEAVERNS I Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine Cummings School of Veterinary iVledicine at Tufts University 200 VVestboro Road North Grafton. MA 01 536 . ^^.,^.^m^i Vinton's Country Series THE HORSE FOR WORK OR PLEASURE WITH CHAPTERS ON FEEDING, MANAGEMENT, DISEASES, AND ACCIDENTS fia ■% J -^'<^.f(^^^'?^^-&. LONDON VINTON & CO., Limited 8, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C. A SERIES OF PRACTICAL HANDBOOKS. VINTON'S COUNTRY SERIES. THE HORSE : for Work or Pleasure. CATTLE : a Practical Handbook. SHEEP: a Practical Handbook. PIGS : for Breeders and Feeders. DISEASES OF PIGS : their Prevention and Cure. THE MARE AND FOAL AND THEIR TREATMENT. HOW TO CHOOSE A COW AND REAR THE CALF. MILCH GOATS: Breeds and Manage- ment. DOGS : Breeds and Management. POULTRY: Breeds and Management. BEES : a Practical Handbook. FERRETS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. VINTON & CO., Ltd., 8, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, E.G. PREFACE The increasing interest manifested in the breeding and rearing of live stock and in the other branches of farming has induced the publishers to prepare a number of cheap volumes, under the title of "Vinton's Country Series," which are intended to afford elementary information on the various subjects dealt with. These, it is hoped, will be found useful to those who have not studied the subjects in more exhaustive treatises, and will lead them to seek for further guidance and instruction in such works as " Morton's Handbooks of the Farm," and the " Live Stock Handbooks," also issued by them, and in which fuller information can be obtained. On small holdings as well as on larger farms a more diversified system is now necessary, crops and live stock having to be carefully managed if the enter- prise is to result in profit. It is therefore essential that the best practice should be studied, and in these little books the various breeds of stock are described and their character and capabilities in- dicated, while brief hints on management are given. The present series deals with horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and volumes also treating of dogs, poultry-keeping, bee-keeping, and many other rural topics, such as butter and cheese-making, market- gardening, etc., will be taken up in turn. CONTENTS CHAPTER I. Breeds and Varieties of Horses II. How TO BUY A Horse III. The Foaling Mare IV. Feeding Horses V, Stables and Stable Management VI. Bits and Harness VII, Carriages VIII. Shoes and Shoeing IX. Diseases and Accidents Index PAGE 5 24 32 39 43 49 53 55 57 73 THE HORSE FOR WORK OR PLEASURE CHAPTER I BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES Ride and Drive Horses. Perhaps the most popular and useful horse in exist- ence — although he is of course looked down upon by those who are so happily situated as to be able to afford the luxury of an extensive stable filled by all sorts of animals — is the ordinary ride and drive horse, which is not only equal to performing a good deal of useful work between the shafts, but can provide his master with a little healthy exercise in saddle as well. In this category the Hackney, the cob, and the pony are included, as well as many, in fact all, half-breds and nondescripts which belong to the ranks of light horses* The Hackney is one of the oldest varieties of horse; he can trace his pedigree back to the celebrated Flying Childers who was foaled in the beginning of the last century, and forms the corner-stone of many a Thoroughbred as well as Hackney pedigree. In fact, it may be 6 THE HORSE accepted as correct that the two last-named varieties of horse were established about the same period, the sires, so far as the foundation stock is concerned, being either the imported Arabians and Barbs of the period or else their immediate descendants. East Anglia was the original home of the Hackney, and many references to the doings of the ancient crack specimens of the breed are contained in the columns of the Norfolk papers which appeared in the earlier years of the present century, by which time the breed HACKNEY, had evidently become well established. From Norfolk the Hackney found his way into Yorkshire, and thence all over the country, so that in the present day there is scarcely a county in England where at least one breeding stud is not to be found, whilst in both Scotland and Ireland, to say nothing of abroad, the admirers of the Hackney are to be numbered by the thousand. The two great gaits of the Hackney are the trot and the walk, and a good specimen of the breed should be able to trot faster than he can gallop, and walk fast enough to be able to rest himself and yet get over the ground when he is on a journey. About 15.3 hands is the maximum height to which the Hackney is bred. Good specimens have been BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 7 bred which have stood higher at the shoulder, but 15.2 or 15.3 hands are quite enough for this class of horse. One of the chief points of the Hackney is his head, which should show plenty of breeding combined with substance ; while, in the case of a stallion, any approach to an effeminate appearance about the head is most objectionable. The ears are small and pointed, the neck of fair length, nicely bent, with plenty of substance in it, but at the same time free HARNESS HACKNEY. from coarseness, whilst the shoulders should be clean, long and sloping ; the back is of moderate length, so as to give sufficient room for a heavy saddle, the loins are extra strong and the quarters long and powerful, the ribs being nicely sprung, as flat sides are a bad fault. The chest is of a nice breadth and depth, so as to provide plenty of room for the heart and lungs ; the legs should be short, heavy and flat in bone, with nice long pasterns and good-sized feet ; the arms and thighs being well clothed with muscle, and the joints large and truly formed. Regarding the great question of shoulders, it must be added that whilst the long sloping shoulder is, in the case of the Hackney, as in all other horses, a matter of vital 8 THE HORSE importance when the animal is required for riding purposes, the necessity for their being thus formed is not so great in the case of a harness horse ; in fact, in the case of animals which are expected to draw heavy loads, many hold that a rather upright shoulder fills the collar better than a sloping one, but the possessor of the latter is always the better mover and usually the faster horse. In one respect the Hackney is admitted on all sides to be pre-eminent, his trot- ing action being superior to that of any other variety of horse in the world. A good Hackney uses his shoulders, knees, and fore pasterns to their utmost capacity when set going, whilst, as regards his hind legs, it can only be said that he doubles his hocks well under him and does not leave them behind, as many fair movers in front are inclined to do. A disposition to go rather wide between the hocks is visible in some very fine movers, and especially when they are pressed to go fast, and, therefore, a buyer need not pass by a Hackney that is good in other respects because of this. Finally, it may be said that the majority of Hackneys are marvellously good-tempered, though they are high-couraged horses, and therefore are worthy of the confidence that is reposed upon them by their admirers. The Cob may be described as being something between the horse and the pony in stature, standing as he does about 14 hands at shoulder, but he is usually a very thick, stocky built animal, his middle-piece being not unlike that of a dray horse in miniature. Of course some cobs are far stouter in their build than others, but plenty of substance is a great desideratum in this class of horse, whose vocation in life it often becomes to carry middle-aged and elderly men of considerable weight upon his back. Strength rather BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 9 than speed is therefore the most valuable charac- teristic of the cob ; but it must be remembered that such strength should not be associated with coarse- ness or underbreeding. The latter would probably be accompanied by a sluggish, mulish disposition, which is not wanted in a cob, which should be a very temperate, but yet high-couraged horse, steady as a brake horse, yet carrying his head well, as though he could do anything if he wished to, and above all things a cob must be a first-rate walker if required for riding purposes. As a trapper the cob is greatly appreciated by drivers who do not desire to travel very fast, and yet are compelled to utilize the services of a powerful animal, whose good sense they can rely upon, but it is as the beau ideal of a safe con- veyance for an elderly gentleman that the cob will always be most popular. The head of a cob should be neat and intelligent- looking, but large enough to be proportionate to his size, his neck should be fairly long, else his value as a saddle horse will be diminished, and his shoulders of course as long and sloping as possible. His chest is wide and deep, his middle piece very massive, with well-sprung ribs and big loins and quarters. He should be very short upon the leg^ with great bone and muscle, his limbs and joints being perfectly clean, for it must be remembered that, though a httle horse, his position as a weight carrier ys, facile primus in the equine world. The Galloway may be briefly described as a bloodlike animal, half horse, half pony, and standing about 14 hands at shoulder. Many so-called racing Galloways are simply diminutive thoroughbreds, which are too small for the Turf and therefore have been relegated to another sphere of usefulness. Being a light- framed animal and full of quality, the Galloway is an lo THE HORSE excellent mount for a boy or girl, and in leather is a most attractive-looking little horse, for his trot is usually superior to that of the thoroughbred, as the little one uses his knees and hocks better when at this gait than does the taller animal. The expression Galloway, however, is not often heard in general use, and consequently it is unnecessary to refer to these animals further in a work of an elementary description. The Pony is a most difficult animal to treat of, for no one exactly seems to know what constitutes a member of this race. In some parts of the country a horse is styled a pony if he does not stand 15 hands; 14.2 is the limit in another district, whilst elsewhere 1 4 hands is considered the correct height, and so on. Conse- quently many differences of opinion exist, and are likely to continue for ever in pony-breeding neigh- bourhoods ; the heights of animals all bred the same way will be found to vary considerably. The general acceptation of the term pony may, however, be taken to be an animal standing under 14 hands, which certainly leaves a very fair margin for the word, as many Shetlands do not much exceed 9.2 hands. In a work of this description it would be impossible to undertake a description of the various breeds of pony, such as those which are classified as the New Forest, Exmoor, Dartmoor, Welsh, and Irish; not to mention the Shetland, 'which, as the most diminutive of them all, possesses a strong individuality of his own. The great advantages of possessing a pony — provided always that he is big enough to do one's work — is that these little animals are always hardy, that they eat very little, and that they are active, big-hearted, high-couraged bantams, to whose bottom it is veiy hard to get if they are treated fairly well. It is difficult, moreover, to put a BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES ii pony out of his place if it so be that his lack of size does not put him out of court, and, in fact, no variety of horse is capable of being more useful to his master or affording more pleasure to a lover of the equine race than a good pony. The description of a pony is difficult to give, as there are a few characteristics amongst the special PONY, breeds referred to which are not shared by all alike. The great point, however, to be sought for in an animal of this description is quality combined with action, and if a person wants to procure a sound pony possessed of these merits he will assuredly have to pay high for the privilege of doing so. Being so small in stature, ponies are very rarely utiUzed by grown-up persons as saddle horses, and are conse- quently usually relegated to an honourable position between the shafts. The most valuable ponies are 12 THE HORSE those which resemble thoroughbreds in their con- formation, but of course the daisy-cutting form of trot affected by the latter would ill become an animal which is supposed to atone for its paucity of inches by its action and speed. A sweet head is an essential property of a pony, and so is a good eye, good shoulders, and a level back. The possession of a great amount of substance is not so indispensable a point in a pony as in other varieties of horse, but it must be remembered that what bone it does possess must be correct in shape. Moreover, as many specimens of the breeds alluded to above are inclined to be cow-hocked, i.e. turn their hocks inwards, and as this is regarded as an unsightly defect, the man who may be looking over a pony with a view to buying him should take notice of this portion of the animal's anatomy. It often occurs too that the feet of ponies, although free from disease, are very small, and perhaps a little incorrect in shape; attention may consequently be directed to this^ in case a purchaser may not think of examining the feet as closely as he might. Saddle Horses. Beyond a doubt the Thoroughbred and the Hackney are the stock from which all the best saddle horses in England are sprung. The former's history and appearance are both so thoroughly understood that they need no recapitulation here; whilst the Hackney is fully dealt with in the section on *' Ride and Drive Horses," and so many animals belonging to this variety belong to the latter class of animal. The pony and the cob are also mentioned upon another page, and consequently the saddle horse par excellence must be accepted as being either a clean- bred Thoroughbred or Hackney or else a cross of one of these varieties. There is, of course, the Arab to BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 13 be considered, but the stature of this breed is so small by comparison with that of the English animals, and he is so infrequently met with in this country — though his numbers are increasing — that ^- - V THOROUGHBRED, he can scarcely be regarded as a generally market- able commodity at present. The Hunter is of course the most popular variety of saddle horse that exists in England, and if the man who wants a hunter does not ride, inclusive of saddle and all impedimenta, more than thirteen stone or so, he should find it fairly easy to procure a clean-bred horse to carry him. A Thoroughbred, however, up to greater weight is an expensive animal to buy, and consequently a half-bred, sired by a Thorough- bredj is the horse for the ordinary mortal to seek for ;. but the value of the latter is very considerably higher than that of the light-weight animal. 14 THE HORSE A good, sensible head is almost a sine qua non in the perfect hunter; his neck must be long enough to give him a chance of recovering himself if he stumbles; his shoulders must be long and sloping, this is most essential, whilst his chest should be broad and deep, the girth of a horse of this class being a very important feature in his composition. HUNTER. A powerful back and loins are, of course, to be sought for in a heavy weight, whilst a short set of big flat legs, placed on feet of nice size and shape, are indispensable to a hunter. His quarters also should be powerful, his gaskins big, his hocks well developed and clean, whilst all his limbs should be well clothed with muscle. The more strength a horse of this description has behind the saddle the BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 15 better, for much of a hunter's action and utility lies in the propelling power he possesses. Many a valuable hunter bears traces of the firing-iron upon his legs, but these by no means need be regarded as evidences of unsoundness, as the operation of firing is frequently resorted to as a precautionary measure. The question of quality is one that should not be passed unheeded by the purchaser of a hunter, as an underbred, common-looking animal is not in- frequently as deficient in gameness as he is plebeian in appearance ; and a hunter that will not struggle when the pinch comes is scarcely a safe animal to be on at the end of a tiring day. The gallop is, of course, the chief point in the action of a hunter, who, to be fit for his work, should be good all round, and use his hocks freely as well as his shoulders and knees. In mentioning this it may be remarked, that many a horse which only shows up moderately at the trot or canter becomes quite a different animal when fairly set going, and therefore in looking over a hunter it is well to see him fully extended before making up one's mind. Considerable importance should also be attached to the walk of a hunter, as it frequently happens that hounds run into their fox at some place situated a long way from home, and most men who have experienced the misery of getting back on a tired animal that is a bad walker would not care to repeat the performance were it possible to avoid it. Finally it may be suggested to any one who is attempting to form an opinion of the merits of a hunter, or, in fact, any other saddle horse, that the most satisfactory of all methods for settling the matter is to get on him and see how he moves then. Five minutes in a ten-acre field will tell any man more about the action of a horse he is riding than an hour spent in criticizing his merits and defects from a position on terra firma ; and this important fact i6 THE HORSE may well be taken into the consideration of would-be purchasers. About 15.3 hands is a good height for a hunter. The Hack exists in so many varieties that his name is legion, for the variety embraces almost anything with good shoulders and exceptional manners. The lady's horse is, of course, a bloodlike attractive animal, with a good mouth and quality all over. He need not be a weight carrier, nor need he be so tall as the hunter, nor again is a superabundance of bone an essential feature in the composition of the lady's hack. His manners must be perfect, his canter elegant, and his general appearance aristocratic, all of which excellences are doubtless received from the thoroughbred, the blood of which enters largely into his composition. Polo Ponies Much progress has been made in recent years in the breeding of polo ponies, for which there is an increasing demand, following the extension of the sport. They have to be bred to a particular height^ the Hurlingham rules prescribing that they must not exceed 14 hands 2 inches. The first object in start- ing a polo pony stud is to pick up mares that have been regularly played, and answered the questions asked of them. Care should then be taken in selecting a stallion that is a known good stock getter, or, if possible, of pony size and well bred. Good results have been obtained from using a pony stallion, which, though only half-bred, was possessed of excellent blood, the sire being thoroughbred and BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 17 a winner of many races on the flat, while the dam was a well-known polo pony ; but in using a half- bred the greatest care should be taken to cross with mares of quality. The Polo Pony Society's shows clearly prove that it is quite possible to breed to type. The Arab. The Arab has not only done good service to the POLO PONY. horses of this country, but he is capable of per- forming more excellent work if judiciously bred from. As a saddle horse his manners are excellent, and it may be conscientiously said of him that, in his proper place, he is a valuable horse. The small- ness of his stature is against the Arab, but his height is increasing owing to the exertions of English enthusiasts, whilst as a sire for that very marketable commodity, the polo pony, this class of horse owns no superior; whilst the bloodlike heads and excellent legs and feet of many Arabs attract the public B i8 THE HORSE towards them. Indeed, as a mount for ladies who do not study the size of their horses, or for girls and boys, the claims of the Arab should not be overlooked. Harness Horses. Of course most varieties of horse are more or less adapted for service between the shafts, but the Cleveland Bay and the Yorkshire Coach Horse are both the harness horses o( Englsind J>ar exce/knce, and as such are entitled to special reference here. The Cleveland Bay, which is undoubtedly a very old breed, is more generally to be found in Yorkshire than in other parts of the country, but at the same time there are many horses of the kind bred far away from York- shire. He is a big upstanding animal showing plenty of quahty for his inches, and he is a fine mover if not unduly pressed, though a Cleveland Bay can scarcely be regarded in the light of a saddle horse, and he is therefore very seldom used for any but draught purposes. According to Mr. W. Scarth Dixon, in "Light Horses," * the Cleveland Bay stands from 1 6. 1 hands to 16.3, and rarely exceeds the latter or falls short of the former height. His head is not one of his chief beauties, as it is inclined to be plain, but it is long and well carried. The back and loins are powerful, and his quarters long, level and muscular, whilst his shoulders slope well, and he stands on short, flat-boned legs. As regards his action it cannot be contended that the Cleveland Bay can approach the Hackney in the way of bend- ing the knee, but the former breed uses his shoulders ♦Live Stock Handbooks, "Light Horses: Breeds and Management," published by Vinton & Co., Ltd., London. Price 3J. 6d. BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 19 and hocks well, and is an excellent mover both at the walk and the trot. In colour he is, of course, a bay of either a lighter or a darker shade, and occa- sionally curious-looking zebra-like stripes are visible on the arms and thighs. Sometimes in the darker bays similar stripes or marks are found upon the quarters^ and not unfrequently there is a dark stripe down the back. The presence of a few white hairs are visible about the pasterns, but although these are not regarded as disqualifications, they are much objected to by many judges. The Cleveland Bay, it may be added, is a very powerful and active horse, and may be used, when there is no other work for him, for ploughing, though if the soil be extra heavy clay he is scarcely heavy enough for such an under- taking. The Yorkshire Coach Horse, although not so old a variety as the Cleveland Bay, is asserted by its supporters to be a breed possessing an existence of a hundred years. There is room for believing that the Cleveland Bay had a good deal to do with the origin of the Yorkshire Coach Horse, but the precise origin of the latter breed is decidedly obscure, and in hazarding a conjecture regarding its establishment a good deal must be left to imagina- tion. Taken all round, the Yorkshire Coach Horse may be described, as Mr. W. S. Dixon puts it very happily in " Light Horses," " as a Cleveland Bay with more quality, i.e. with more Thoroughbred quality." The head of the former is smaller and more blood- like than that of the Cleveland, and the crest is more arched. He is also a narrower horse, with less heavy bone, and, generally speaking, possesses more style in his action than the latter horse. In colour the Yorkshire Coach Horse must be either a bay or a brown, and a stallion heavily marked with white would be rejected by a careful breeder. 20 THE HORSE The above two varieties may be taken as repre- senting the two great pure breeds of English harness horses, but it must be remembered that their size and formation adapt them more for heavy barouche and landau than for mail phaetons or dog-cart work. Of course half-bred animals of either breed are far more commonly met with than pure Cleveland Bays or Yorkshire Coach Horses, and it may be added that a most useful serviceable animal is a first cross between the two breeds, as is that between a Hackney sire and a Cleveland Bay mare. Draught Horses. The three great recognized varieties of draught horse are the Shire, the Clydesdale, and the Suffolk, all of which have their supporters, and all of which are grand horses in their respective spheres. The Shire Horse is undoubtedly a most ancient variety^ and is re- garded by many authorities as being a direct descen- dant of the old English war horse so graphically described by Sir Walter Gilbey in his work upon that now extinct variety, as the Shire horse has evolutionized his ancestor out of all recognition. The Shire stallion of the present day, according to " Heavy Horses," * a standard handbook upon draught animals, should be at least 17 hands at shoulder, from II to 11^ inches below the knee, and from 12 to 14 inches below the hock. The measurements of the mare will not be so great, but she must, of course, possess plenty of substance likewise. The amount and quality of the hair upon the legs is a * Live Stock Handbooks, " Heavy Horses : Breeds and Management," published by Vinton & Co., Ltd., London. Price 3i-. 6d. BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 21 great point of importance, as it should be profuse, not harsh to the touch, straight and not at all woolly in texture. The head of a Shire horse is of a good useful size^ a too pretty-looking headpiece not being desired. The chest is wide, the middle-piece excep- tionally powerful and extra deep behind the arms, the shoulders straighter than those of a general purpose horse, so as to adapt themselves to the purposes of drawing heavy loads, the fore legs short. very big, with good sloping pasterns and big healthy feet; whilst the hind legs should also be powerful, and the hocks especially well developed and quite clean, any tendency to turn the latter joints either in or out being highly objectionable. A free, level walk is a great characteristic of a first-rate Shire horse. The Clydesdale, which is to be found in perfection in the south- western districts of Scotland, possesses, according to a writer in " Heavy Horses," a head of medium 22 THE HORSE length and broad between the eyes and the muzzle. An open, level countenance, vigorous eye, and large ear are also greatly valued, and the neck is somewhat arched. The shoulders of a Clydesdale are oblique, laying well back on the withers, whilst the chest is both wide and deep, his legs are short, flat in bone, and feathered with silky hair, his pasterns are long, ^ % CLYDESDALE. and his feet large, round, and open, with particularly wide coronets. The tail is set on rather high, the quarters powerful without being coarse, and the thighs and back legs strong and muscular. The action of a Clydesdale is more showy than that of a Shire horse, and a good one is always a very fast walker, whilst many shape extremely well at the trot. The Suffolk, or Suffolk Punch, as the variety is usually styled, is a far lighter breed tlian either the Shire horse or Clydesdale. In colour these horses are invariably chestnut, and they BREEDS AND VARIETIES OF HORSES 23 can be traced back as far as the year 1720, thanks to the existence of the Ipswich Jotirnal. The breed appears, says a writer in " Heavy Horses," to be indigenous to the eastern districts of Suffolk, but it is admitted that little can be said concerning the origin of this horse. The Suffolk horse, the writer just referred to says, " is a short-legged, clean-boned animal of ample size for any agricultural work in any district in England, and admirably fitted for SUFFOLK. active town work as well. He should be deep in the carcase, wide in front, square behind, with hard short legs, close knitted joints, and devoid of all tendency to coarseness. Unless extremely well put together, anything over 16.1 hands should be viewed with suspicion." The temperament of the Suffolk is usually very docile and his patience is great, added to which he is a long-lived horse, and if taken care of can be used for van work until he arrives at a considerable age. CHAPTER II HOW TO BUY A HORSE The first question which a person who wants a horse should ask himself is, "What do I require such an animal for ? " and having answered this to his satisfaction, he should then make up his mind as to what price he cares to give. These two important questions are, however, very often the ones which prospective buyers omit to put to themselves, and the result is that they frequently find themselves in the possession of an animal which neither suits their work nor their stables, and for which^ moreover, they have paid more money than they can afford. A man who desires to purchase a horse for heavy draught purposes will, for instance, be scarcely likely to be suited if he invests in a Suffolk, whilst he who wants an active vanner would be acting most unwisely if he expends his money on a Shire. So the person who has to use his horse in saddle will regret the purchase of a horse whose shoulders may not be properly placed, or whose pasterns are short and straight, whereas these defects would be passable in a trapper in which smoothness of action is not so indispensable a product. And so on ad ijifinitum^ there is a place for every sort of horse, and it, is wisdom on the part of the owner if he sees that every animal in his possession is in his proper place. So many difficulties, however, beset the inexperi- enced horse owner that he may be excused if he HOW TO BUY A HORSE 25 makes mistakes at the commencement of his career, and few men, indeed, who have had extended trans- actions in horse flesh can candidly lay their hands upon their hearts and declare that they have not had reason to regret some^ at least, of their earlier bargains. One golden rule to bear in mind in pur- chasing a horse is never to trust to your own impres- sions as regards his soundness. The devices of some sellers are so ingenious that experienced men are liable to be deceived, and therefore the novice has no chance whatever in their hands. Conse- quently, let it be urged once more that the veterinary surgeon's fee is money well spent ; but remember always that the opinions of some professional men are worth a great deal more than others when the soundness of a horse is under consideration. If a horse is required to be used for saddle pur- poses, see that he has a good, long, sloping pair of shoulders laying well back at the withers. Choose an animal with plenty of depth of chest, a powerful level back, long enough to carry the saddle comfort- ably without cramming it on the top of the withers in front or on the quarters behind. Seek for fore- legs placed well under him, good shapely knees, lengthy pasterns and healthy feet. A tucked-up loin is to be avoided, as is a short neck, but the quarters should be long and powerful, the thighs muscular, and the hocks clean, flexible, and neither turned in nor out. An intelligent head is also a point to be sought for particularly in a saddle horse, as a sensible, good-tempered beast is usually a safe conveyance, whereas a sour dispositioned, lethargic animal is precisely the reverse. The last, but by no means the least important point to be paid attention to, is the position of the fore feet, the toes of which should point straight in front of the animal, neither in nor out, as either of the latter formations are serious defects in a saddle horse. The question of 26 THE HORSE action is more or less one that must depend upon the rider and his views, for the elderly gentleman in search of a smooth-actioned park hack would shrink in horror from a high-actioned Hackney such as would delight his son. A great point that should be kept before a man who is watching a horse move with a view of purchasing the animal is to satisfy himself that the action is true all round. A horse that gets away in front and leaves his hind legs behind him owing to an inability to tuck his hocks under his body, is not the sort that could by any possibility be described as a good mover. Then, too, there is the flashy mover in front — all action and no go — which lifts his knees almost as high as his bit, and smashes his feet down in nearly the same place as he took them up from. This is, of course, a flat catcher pure and simple, and if his action is watched it will be found that he does not use his shoulders, whilst in the majority of instances he has none to use. Short, straight shoulders and upright pasterns are never good, and a shelly middle-piece which provides no room for the heart and lungs are always to be avoided. A narrow chest is usually associated with speed, but if an animal is as narrow-chested as the famous mare Crucifix, which was so phenomen- ally formed in this respect that she would fall whilst galloping as a foal^ he will never be fit for much exertion unless he has plenty of depth about him to make up for the deficiency of breadth. It would be useless to attempt to expatiate upon the artifices resorted to by unprincipled persons to conceal the infirmities of their horses, as a volume as bulky as an encyclopaedia might be filled by exposures of such malpractices, and then the beginner would be very little better off, as he would be still deficient in experience to detect them. Consequently he, it may be repeated, will be acting wisely in availing himself of the services of a qualified veterinary HOW TO BUY A HORSE 27 surgeon of position. If he is left to his own resources, however, he cannot exercise too much caution as to whom he has transactions with, and he will be acting very unwisely if he buys a horse from a stranger, or even under the hammer unless the animal is sent up by some reliable person and has a warranty with him. Many a serviceable animal, and more especially those used for draught, a^e worn more or less about the legs, the hocks in particular having been affected by the constant strain of starting a heavy load ; and here again the ^novice would be hopelessly at sea if left to his own judgment in distinguishing the infirm animal from the workable. The beginner, however, should never allow himself to be persuaded into buying a crock at any price, for if he does so in the hopes of repair- ing the infirmities he will assuredly find, even if the horse is set upon his legs again, that it would have been cheaper for him to have started with a sound, even though a slightly blemished, animal. A palpably infirm horse can only be resuscitated to the advan- tage of his owner by skilled treatment, and if the beginner has to pay for this and place his veterinary surgeon's bill on the top of the price paid for the horse, he will be a very lucky man if he does not find his bargain a most expensive one in the long run. The practice of permitting their coachmen to buy their horses for them is a common one, especially amongst business men, or ladies who have neither the time nor judgment to transact their own business. Although the custom is open to grave objection^ as it is a direct temptation to a servant to lose sight of his master's best interests in the exercise of his natural desire to feather his own nest, it has one recommendation, and one only, in its favour. This lies in the fact that if a man selects a horse, he may be reasonably expected to procure one that he can drive and which is sound, else he would be liable to 28 THE HORSE dismissal for incompetence. Many owners of horses, however, are unfortunately completely under the power of their servants, and simply so because they themselves are entirely ignorant of all subjects connected with the noble animal, and are ashamed to display their ignorance to those about them. Needless to say that these are the persons who are easily fleeced, though why a man who, for instance, is a clever lawyer but knows nothing of horseflesh, should be reluctant to ask advice, and, if necessary, pay for it, from a reliable acquaintance who under- stands all the details of a stable, but is ignorant of law, is a quite unintelligible illustration of human weakness. The horsey man is not ashamed of pro- claiming his inability to expound the law ; why should the barrister or solicitor be reluctant to be equally candid regarding his unacquaintance with matters equine ? In buying a horse from a respectable dealer who has a reputation to lose, the novice is pretty safe ; but he will have to pay dealers' prices for his pur- chase, and that probably will not please a careful man. On the other hand, if he goes alone to an auction and buys under the hammer, he is very likely indeed to secure a ragged bargain, unless, as suggested above, the animal he selects comes from a reliable stable and has a warranty; but then this difficulty arises — the tyro, by reason of his ignorance, cannot discriminate between the honest men and the others. To a fair the beginner should never go unless under the guidance of a friendly mentor, who understands the points of a horse, and it is not always easy to find a competent judge with the time and money to spare to enable him to accompany his friend. Upon the whole the best and safest plan, except, of course, visiting a leading dealer and paying him his price, is for the novice to enlist the services of an expert in horseflesh, be he auctioneer HOW TO BUY A HORSE 29 or private individual, and engage him to act as commissioner. A fixed price should be stated, and out of this the agent may have to pay himself or not, as arranged, whilst an undertaking to add a further douceur if the animal turns out satisfactory, will usually have the effect of stimulating the efforts of the person instructed with the commission. In a paper like the Live Stock Journal, many extensive horsebreeders are in the habit of advertising what animals they have for disposal, and in the columns of this periodical the novice may very possibly see a reference to the sort of animal that may suit him. It is always best to deal direct with the producer when possible, as the profits of the middleman are thereby saved, and if, as suggested above, the novice has a good adviser at his elbow, he will probably be better served by doing so than by adopting any other means^ unless of course he happens to know of a horse that is likely to suit him, and takes the wise precaution of having the animal vetted before finally completing the purchase. The price of a horse may be briefly stated to be just what he will fetch, and the novice who wishes to become an owner may consider himself to be a very lucky man if he succeeds in obtaining a bargain the first time of asking. He should consider himself fortunate if, acting upon his own judgment, he gets what he wants at a fair price, but he may bear in mind that a good useful horse at a fairly long price is a very much cheaper animal than a screw at half the money. . The omnibus companies are content to pay an average of forty odd pounds apiece for horses, whilst the Government price for remounts is very much the same, and the class of horses that are serviceable for such purposes is scarcely adapted, useful though they be, for the use of gentlefolk who take a pride in the appearance of their animals, though at the same time it may be admitted that 30 THE HORSE many a very good-looking remount joins the colours in the course of each year. If a person can get hold of a good-looking and sound harness horse standing 15.3 hands for seventy or eighty pounds, he should consider himself ex- tremely fortunate, but for a first-rate article a much larger sum will have to be paid, whilst match pairs of bigger horses will run into three times the money and then be considered cheap. Horses of about 15 hands or a trifle over are as serviceable as many taller animals and command lower prices, not being so taking to the eye, whilst their strength is not so great, but for the one-horse man they come in very handy and often turn out satisfactory for ride and drive purposes. If a big animal is not required and a saddle horse is wanted, the Arab will be found a pleasant mount, but these horses are not generally popular in England and they are difficult to procure, not being plentiful; whilst a good — really good — pony is worth a small fortune to his possessor if he wants to sell him. Hunters, of course, realize fancy prices if they possess good characters, as any students of the prices reported as being realized at Tattersalls' and other horse repositories must perceive ; whilst a hundred guineas for a good-looking, nice-mannered lady's hack is a price that most people would gladly pay j and at this figure a powerful, steady^ elderly gentleman's cob would certainly be considered cheap. Such animals, it must be remembered, if procured at the figures mentioned, would not necessarily be above the serviceable stamp. High class commands high prices, and immediately quality is approached fancy figures become the order of the day. No beginner is, however, acting like a wise man if he invests large sums of money in expensive horses before he understands the animals and their management. If he does so it necessitates his dele- gating the direction of affairs to his servants, and HOW TO BUY A HORSE 31 then half the pleasure of the horse lover is sacrificed. The person who takes a pride in his stud, be it large or small, and the one who gets most out of his horses, is he who buys for himself, who understands the details of stable management and exercises a supervision over the actions of his servants. The beginner cannot hope to qualify himself for such duties all at once, but experience is the greatest of all tutors, and if a man commences with a good useful horse or two, and sets himself to work to learn, will soon become interested in the doings of horses, and as time advances will be fully quaHfied to launch out more ambitiously and form, if he cares to do so and possesses the money to gratify his desire, a stud that will be the admiration, if not the envy, of his friends. CHAPTER III THE FOALING MARE The treatment of a foaling mare presents so many features of difficulty to a person who is entirely un- acquainted with the subject, that it is not surprising that so few amateurs shrink from the idea of breed- ing foals. In the first instance a popular belief obtains that the services of the mare would be lost for quite a considerable time before and after her offspring is brought into the world ; secondly, it is believed by many that great risk to the life of a mare is incurred by breeding from her ; and thirdly, the amount of looking after she and her foal require has assumed the most formidable proportions in the minds of those initiated in the mysteries of breeding horses. Regarding the above questions seriatim, it must be admitted, as is only natural, that a little rest must be permitted the foaling mare towards the end of the period of gestation and after the birth of the foal. The period, however, of her relaxation from work need not necessarily be nearly so prolonged as many persons imagine ; but, on the other hand, as must be obvious to all, very heavy hauling or any severe tax upon her energies is to be deprecated, if the safety of the mare and well-being of her foal are matters for consideration, as of course they must be. Still, it not infrequently happens that the horse owner in a small way is compelled to work his THE FOALING MARE 33 brood mare up to very nearly the day of her foaHng, and set her to earn her Uving again within quite a few days of her youngster being born. Such a policy is both short-sighted and inhuman; short- sighted because the treatment is extremely likely to weaken the mare and affect the development of her foal, and inhuman because the condition of the mother should have ensured her a sufficient respite from hard work at a time when nature ordains that she requires repose. As regards the danger to the life of a mare, although it is of course impossible to deny that deaths do occur, even in the best regu- lated breeding establishments, it may at the same time be stated with every confidence that their number is reduced to a minimum when the mares are healthy and have been rationally treated. Pro- portionately, more animals in fact lose their health and lives from colds and want of proper care than from being bred from, and therefore the man who owns a good mare and is incUned to breed from her may take heart of grace and try his luck with con- fidence of success. There remains, however, the third of the alleged " difficulties " to be dealt with, namely, the trouble that is incurred by those in charge of the animal at the time of her bringing her offspring into the world. This will form the chief subject dealt with in this chapter, and when these have been read, it is probable that many a person who has not attempted to study the subject before may arrive at the conclusion that he has been un- necessarily alarmed by exaggerated stories that have reached his ears. Before proceeding to deal with the treatment of the mare and her foal, it may belpremised that many animals are so worried by the over-attention they receive at the hands of their attendants that serious consequences both to the mare and foal result. This circumstance points to the fact that quiet is c 34 THE HORSE necessary if a happy termination of the troubles of a mare are expected ; but^ on the other hand^, it will be seen in the following suggestions that an eye should be kept on the mare, and this will necessitate a certain amount of extra attention, and probably a few nights of broken rest for her groom. It is also a generally accepted fact amongst horse breeders — as it is amongst the raisers of all other varieties of stock — that the higher bred the mare is the more susceptible she is to the dangers of parturition; whereas the lower class animals usually suffer very little inconvenience, relatively speaking. The first point to be considered is the best time for putting the mare to the horse, and it may here be incidentally mentioned that the period of gestation is as near as possible forty-eight w^eeks^ a few days before or after the precise date being not infrequent. The production of a very early foal is not desirable except in the case of racehorses_, which, like all other members of the equine race that appear in public, whether at shows or elsewhere, take their age from January i, and are therefore required to be foaled as early as possible in order that the extra few months of existence may render them bigger than they might otherwise be, when opposed to later foaled youngsters of the same year. Whether this policy of early breeding is a desirable one or the reverse in the case of racehorses^ this is not the place to discuss ; it is sufficient to state that the practice prevails. There is no necessity, how- ever, but rather the reverse, for condemning it so far as the breeding of ordinary horses is concerned. April or May are by far the best months for the breeder of the ride or drive or average utility horse^ be it heavy or light, to try and arrange as the period of his youngster's entry into the world ; and, to ensure this, the mare should visit the selected staUion either in the May or June of the preceding year. THE FOALING MARE 35 It is the usual practice to have a mare served about nine days after she has foaled, as this is considered a favourable time, and likely to increase the chances of her conceiving. In the case of maiden or barren mares there is no such rule to guide the owner, who must therefore follow out the evidences of nature to the best of his abiHty ; but as mares are usually disposed to accept the attentions of a horse pretty frequently during the spring months, there should be very little difficulty indeed about getting her served about the desired time. The most experienced veterinarian or groom is quite unable to decide positively for several months whether the mare is in foal or not, and therefore it is usual to present her to the horse once or twice at intervals of a fortnight after service, and if she refuses him, her owner will be then justified in hoping for the best; though unfortunately it must be admitted that even then disappointments not infrequently occur. The in-foal mare usually becomes languid and more steady shortly after conception has taken place, and she is not so fretful and excited as formerly, though it sometimes happens that evidences of oestrum are present. The latter occurrence need not therefore necessarily lead an owner to decide that his mare is not in foal, though it is quite possible that he may be disconcerted thereat. When it becomes pretty certain that the mare is in foal, it is a wise policy to spare her any violent exercise if it can possibly be avoided, whilst it must be obvious to all that fast work can only be indulged in at the risk of her health and that of her foal. At the same time steady work of an ordinary character can be set her, in fact, exercise is necessary for her well-being at this, and every other, period of her existence. Should it not be necessary to work the mare at all for the last few months of her pregnancy she should be given her liberty in a field or paddock, 36 THE HORSE as level as possible and free from open drains and ditches, as the chances of ill befalling her are materially reduced thereby. It is a wise precaution too to see that all projecting stakes and nails should be removed from the fences and gates, and if there is a hovel in the field the sides of this should also be carefully gone over in order to prevent the possibility of injury to the mare, as her size will be increasing day by day. When the day of foaling is close at hand the mare should be placed in a spacious box, which, though properly ventilated^ should be free from draughts, where she can be under the observation of her attendant, and it may be here suggested that as it is undesirable to disturb her more than is necessary, it is a good plan to try and arrange for some peep- holes through which she can frequently be observed from the outside without her box being entered. As a rule a mare drops her foal whilst standing up, and generally, and especially when there are no com- plications, all is over in a very short time ; the navel- string of the foal being broken as the foal drops gently on the straw. The cause of joint ill in the foal is the entrance of specific germs into the wound at the navel or end of the navel string before this has been completely healed up after birth, and to prevent the admission of these dangerous organisms the greatest cleanliness is necessary not only of the wound itself, but of the stable or shed in which the foal is kept. If a number of foals are reared in the same establishment, the appearance of the disease should be the signal for immediate attention to the others. This should consist of daily dressing of the navel end or sore with some disinfectant, such as carbolic acid and olive oil, one part of the former to fifteen of the latter, applied with a bit of sponge ; or, after the wound has been cleaned with tepid water, the part THE FOALING MARE 37 should be well covered either with powdered boracic acid or equal parts of iodoform and starch powder, and covered with a piece of carbolized lint or fine tow maintained in its place by a wide cotton bandage round the body. In about a week there will be no more danger. This treatment should be resorted to soon after birth. After a month from the birth of the foal, or perhaps three weeks, the mare can be put to gentle work again, but it is not desirable for her own sake or that of the foal that she should begin with too much hard work, or that the pair should be separated for a long time. The in-foal mare, and especially if she is worked, should be well fed, but this does not imply that she should be gorged. On the contrary, she only requires enough to keep her in good condition and health, but it often becomes necessary that she requires more to eat than when she was barren, and the quality of her food should be good. If she is not at work she can subsist upon grass alone, but the addition of a little hay and oats is most beneficial all the same, whilst, if she is at work, they are impera- tively necessary. Mashes, or bruised oats or barley mixed with pulped roots may also be given, and just before she is expected to produce her foal, mashes of boiled linseed and bran, to which an ounce of salt has been added, may be offered her. After the foal is born the dam should be allowed three feeds a day of oats and some hay, whilst if she is short of milk or is not on grass, mashes of boiled oats or barley mixed with sugar or treacle may be added to her diet with beneficial results. Water, pure, sweet, and cool, should always be within the reach of the foaling mare. From the above it will be seen that the possession of a foaling mare does not present such formidable difficulties to the inexperienced, if so be that the 38 THE HORSE animal is rationally treated, as he may have been led to expect. Still, matters do not always proceed as smoothly as may be desired, and then, unless the groom is a practical man, the assistance of a veterinary surgeon should be invoked. It may be remembered too, that cases of abortion are not so infrequent as may be supposed; but it may be added that this misfortune is very often the result of unclean stables, or of the mare being exposed to the contamination of decaying animal or vegetable matter. Should the mare abort, any other mares upon the premises should be forthwith removed to a distance, else the mischief may spread, whilst the utmost care should be exercised in the disinfecting of her stable, and all her bedding, and the foetus, etc._, should be destroyed by burning. Doubtless, however, a veterinary surgeon has been called in, and he will most probably insist upon all this being done. It has been observed that worms sometimes annoy foals exceedingly when they have attained the age of three or four months, or even earlier, but particularly when they are yearlings. The foals should have access to rock salt, and small doses of powdered sulphate of iron should be given morning and evening in a little mash. Ten to fifteen grains of calomel given in mash and repeated after an interval of ten or twelve hours is a very effectual remedy, from four to six ounces of linseed oil being administered six hours after the last dose. The hoofs of foals require attention, and a little judicious managem.ent at an early stage may save much trouble and disappointment afterwards. CHAPTER IV FEEDING HORSES The amount and also the consistency of a horse's daily food should be regulated first by the size and breed of the animal, and secondly by the conditions under which he is being worked. When his labours are extra heavy the quantity of sustaining food should be increased, and if there is little for him to do he will benefit by having his diet curtailed. It is desirable, however, that whatever the amount given him may be, the meals themselves should be fairly frequent, for the peculiar formation of the horse's interior arrangements causes his stomach to empty quickly, and therefore as the digestive apparatus keeps at work, it is necessary that something should be provided for it to employ itself upon. iVnother thing that should be borne in mind is the propensity displayed by horses for bolting their corn, and consequently it is necessary to make it a practice to mix chaff with the grain in order to ensure the food being properly masticated and prevent it passing through the body in the form in which it entered it, and so without the animal deriving any benefit from his feed. The most common items in the dietary of the light draught horse, such as omnibus and tramway slaves, are oats, maize, peas, beans, hay, and straw, the latter commodities being usually given them in 40 THE HORSE the form of chaff, though long hay is added to the daily bill of fare in some stables. Maize usually forms the principal portion of the food, as it is both inexpensive and filling, and assists the animal in keeping on his flesh ; but oats, on the other hand, though not fattening, are, par excellence^ the food to work upon, adding strength to the muscle and stamina to the constitution. Peas or beans are to be regarded as additional restoratives to the horse in work, but should be given sparingly when the animals are doing nothing. As may be imagined even by the merest novice in the methods of feeding horses, the appetites of different animals vary very considerably, some doing themselves well upon lo or 12 lbs. of oats a day, whilst others of the same breed and height will require nearly half as much again to keep them in their full possession of health and strength. For a big hunter in hard work 15 or 16 lbs. of oats and about 10 lbs. of the best hay procurable, 3 or 4 lbs. of which may be given with the corn in the form of chaff, should do him well, and the substitution of a couple of pounds of beans for a similar weight of oats is a course to be recommended. This class of horse should on no account be given maize to eat, as it will affect his condition and stamina, but a periodical bran mash is to be recommended, and particularly after a hard day's work, though some experienced persons prefer boiled oats as being more sustaining to the animal. Carrots, but not too many, will also be found bene- ficial in cooling the blood, and, needless to add, these are much enjoyed by them. Linseed mashes are also recommended by many stud grooms, and others, again, uphold the virtues of a mixed soft feed of this article and bran. Of the public bodies one of the London tram- way companies was amongst the most liberal in their scale of diet, their allowance for each horse FEEDING HORSES. 41 per diem being something like the following : — Maize, 13 lbs.; oats, 3 lbs; peas and beans, i lb. eachj hay, 7 lbs.; straw, 3 lb., the latter in the form of chaff, which gives a total weight of 28 lbs. Another Metropolitan tramway company gave maize, 7 lbs. ; oats, 7 lbs. ; beans, i lb.; hay, 11 lbs.; and straw, 3 lbs., thus decreasing the weight of the feed of grain, but adding to that of the hay ; whilst the Dublin people allowed their horses 14 lbs. of maize, the Birmingham folks being the most liberal of all with their oats^ as their horses each got 10 lbs. of this excellent food. Ten pounds of oats and 12 lbs. of hay is the ordinary allowance for cavalry horses; but during the period w^hen their regiments are manoeuvring or upon the march, the quantity of oats is increased by nearly 50 per cent. The Government ration is a very fair one, and so far as quantity goes might be reasonably applied to most private stables, w^ere it not that the element of variety is necessarily missing, and therefore the addition of split beans or peas is recommended for harness horses in work when their condition has to be kept up. It is not desirable that much hay should be given during working hours, as it impedes the animal when moving about ; but, upon the other hand, every horse requires a certain amount of filling food each day, and this is better for him after he is done up for the night. The advantages of frequent feeding in small quantities have already been alluded to, for the horse's stomach is not suited to remain long empty, and therefore the sooner after 6 a.m. that he gets his breakfast the better it will be for him. Four meals a day should suffice, and if he gets his allowance of hay after he has cleaned out his manger at night, he should carry on very well until the morning. Some animals, however^ are very gross feeders, and regularly eat their beds ; but this habit of devouring straw in large quantities can be 42 THE HORSE checked by the application of the muzzle or substi- tuting peat moss or some other litter for the straw. Under no circumstances should any portion of a feed that is left over by the horse be permitted to remain in the manger, as it soon becomes fouled by their breath and totally unfit for consumption ; so if you have a shy doer to contend with, and find it possible to manage it, the best thing to do is to reduce the quantity of grain and chaff in each feed, but give him it more frequently^, say half a dozen times a day, so that he may be tempted into eating his full allowance, and so avoid losing flesh and strength. Opinions differ a good deal regarding the watering of horses, some persons preferring that a supply should always be in every stall, whilst others advocate a drink being given when the horses come in from work, or before food, but never after the manger is cleared. No horse, however, should be allowed to drink cold water when he is much heated. If he is warm, give it him chilled^ and be careful not to let him drink any which has stood in the stable all night, and which has thus become contaminated by the impurities springing from the exhalations of the horses; neither should he be given water which is drawn from a source to which drainage can possibly have access. If an animal is exhausted by the heat of summer, a double handful of oatmeal given in half a pailful of water will refresh him greatly ; and if he comes in fagged by a hard day's work in autumn or winter, a drink of gruel will prove a very welcome and wholesome draught. CHAPTER V STABLES AND STABLE MANAGE- MENT The first question which a prospective or any other horse owner should ask himself is — when he has decided upon buying a horse — " Have I a proper place to put him in ? " So many animals are kept under insanitary conditions that it is more than possible that this mental cross-examination will quickly be answered in the affirmative, but that, unfortunately, by no means proves that the reply is correct. Most stables are sufficiently roomy, but it may here be mentioned that in " Light Horses " the minimum width of stalls is given as six feet and the minimum depth ten and a half feet, and, of course, in the case of heavy horses, more ample room should be allowed — but the size of the stable is not all that is necessary for the well-being of th^ occupants. Ventilation is a most important, though much neglected, subject in connection with stable archi- tecture, and it is a difficult matter to combine the outlet of foul air and the inlet of fresh with the avoidance of a draught that would affect the horses. The subject of ventilation, however, is so exhaus- tively dealt with in the volume just referred to, and it is of such vital importance to the health of horses, that it cannot be treated of within the limits of an elementary work ; " Light Horses " should be 44 THE HORSE referred to by those who decide upon ensuring that the ventilation of their stables is to be complete. It may, nevertheless, be stated that horses^ if well clothed, can stand a good amount of fresh air, pro- vided always they are kept out of draughts, and that few things can be more prejudicial to their health than long confinement in a vitiated atmosphere. About twelve hundred cubic feet is a fair allowance of air for an ordinary sized horse, but if the figures could be extended by a quarter or a half, it would be greatly to the advantage of the occupants of the stable. The question of drainage is also one that should attract the attention of an owner, be he rich or poor, that desires to keep his animals in health and up to their work, and in this respect many stables are lamentably deficient. Fortunately, how- ever, the horrible old-fashioned gulleys, in which the urine would remain for days contaminating the atmosphere, are falling out of use, their places being occupied by a more satisfactory arrangement, in which gratings and properly constructed drain-pipes form an important feature. It is, nevertheless, very frequently the case that these gratings and drains are permitted to become choked, so that the fluid which they are expected to carry away floods the stable floor, whilst in other instances there is a woeful disregard to all attempts at trapping the drains, the result being that noxious gases are freely admitted into the stables, to the great danger of the horses' lives. The prevention of such risks should unquestionably be the care of the owner of the animals, and the poorer he is the more reason it will be for him to endeavour to save himself from certain loss. The paving of the floor is, of course, a subject for careful consideration, and efforts should be made to ensure the horses getting a good foothold when passing to and fro between their stalls and the door, as well as to arrange for a durable substance STABLES AND STABLE MANAGEMENT 45 being laid down which will not absorb the moisture. Hard bricks and cement are both advocated for this purpose, but, if the latter is adopted, measures should be taken to ensure it being chipped and roughened so as not to form a slippery substance for the horses to walk over. A dark stable is not at all a proper place in which to confine a horse, albeit that an ancient superstition still exists to the effect that it is more desirable to keep a horse in the dark than in the light. There is a medium in all things, naturally, and a glaring stable would no doubt prove unbearable to its occupants, but it is none the less barbarous to keep an animal in a pronounced state of semi-darkness. In the first place it is impossible to ascertain whether his stall or box is properly cleaned out, or that the animal is thoroughly groomed in the dim recesses of such a stable ; and, secondly, the horse, being a sociable, not to say inquisitive, animal, enjoys seeing what is going on about him. Again, a horse that is suddenly brought from the gloom of a dimly lighted stable into the open air is naturally liable to be timid and nervous, with the result that, being ill at ease, he is unable to do himself full justice. Another very common form of cruelty practised through entire thoughtlessness is the practice of sloping the stalls from the head of the horse in the direction of his heels, the object being to permit the water to run off, but a moment's reflection would convince any one who cared to think that it is im- possible for any animal to rest himself properly if his fore feet are raised some inches higher than his hind ones, as he would exist in a chronic state of standing uphill. It is always desirable that the manger should be made of either iron or fire-clay, as both these substances are easier and more effectually cleaned out than wooden ones. The hay-rack, too, should 46 THE HORSE be placed, if possible, on a level with the manger, and it is a good plan to arrange for a water trough to be added alongside this, so that the animal can take a drink when he is desirous of doing so, a lid being provided to close the latter receptacle if he should come in overheated and so be likely to imbibe too freely. Every precaution should be taken to see that the headstall, which should always be made of leather, fits the horse properly, and that the logs at the end of the ropes or chains which connect them with the manger are sufficiently heavy to cause the ropes to tighten when the animal moves his head forward. If the ropes slacken there is always a risk of the horse getting his leg over them and being cast in his stall with possibly the gravest results. The clothing, except in the very warmest weather, and then a thin sheet may be used, should always be sufficiently thick to keep the horse comfort- able, but of course the number and thickness of the rugs must depend upon circumstances, such as the ventilation of the stable, its size, and the number of horses it contains. If a plentiful supply of straw is provided for bedding, the animals will lie warmer than if peat moss litter is used, and the stable will look far smarter; but the latter substance is cheaper, and consequently some owners who study their expenditure are influenced thereby into using it. Sawdust is a still more economical and more objectionable substitute for straw, but it cannot be recommended as a litter for horses, save under most exceptional circumstances, as it blocks the drains, spoils the coats, and is very apt to get into and inflame the eyes. All droppings should, of course, be removed from behind the horse as soon as possible and conveyed outside the stable, whilst it is imperatively necessary that a periodical inspection be made of the drains in order to ascertain that they are in perfect working order and not clogged up. STABLES AND STABLE MANAGEMENT 47 The condition of a horse's coat, as is only natural, depends chiefly upon the amount of attention it receives from the groom, and the more strapping it gets the brighter it will look. Polish and elbow grease are, in fact, inseparably associated so far as horseflesh is concerned, but the owner who takes a pride in his stud should satisfy himself that his ser- vants do their duty by their horses. Manes and tails are often most shamefully scamped when the morning's overhaul is in progress, and it often is found that the roots on the mane on the offside of the neck are abominably dirty through the laziness of the groom. In muddy weather, when a horse comes home plastered all over the belly and inside the thighs, he should not be washed, save the sheath, which should be well dried afterwards — but the mud should be brushed off when dry. If water is used much fever isi likely to ensue, and the consequences will be unpleasant both to man and beast. A horse that" comes in heated should be taken direct to his stall, and not be allowed to stand about outside in the cold to catch a chill. If he is in saddle, the girths should be loosed a little and the saddle moved back an inch or two, and under any circumstances a rug should be thrown loosely over him to prevent him taking cold vv^hilst the sweat breaks out. When it has done so, and he is cooling, he may be strapped dry and have his feet washed out^ and his legs bandaged if he is accustomed to wear them. Bandages are very useful appliances for hght horses, and especially for. such as are in hard work, as they assist in keeping the legs in good order, and no doubt contribute to the comfort of the wearer ; consequently their general adoption may be advocated. A horse that eats his bed should always be muzzled at night, for the practice is a most annoying one to his owner, who, when he possesses such an animal, may almost be excused if he adopts peat moss as his litter; but 48 THE HORSE crib biting is a vice of such proportions that it may be legitimately included in the category of diseases which are practically incurable. A great deal of trouble is frequently caused by the presence of a kicker in the stable, especially as such a horse — some of which will keep the game up all night long — are very liable to injure themselves or their stable companions through their vagaries. A truss of straw suspended at the back of the stall a foot or two behind his quarters will sometimes effect a modified remedy, as, in the first place, it cannot injure him when he kicks it, and, secondly, every time that he does so it swings back against his hocks and upsets his equa- nimity. Consequently the kicker sometimes gets tired of attacking the harmless straw, which emits no responsive sound to his attentions, and he then com- poses himself to rest and permits his companions to do the same. Crib biting is the name by which a most nasty and annoying habit is usually known. It consists of the horse taking hold of the manger or some pro- jecting part of the front or sides of his stall with his teeth and sucking air into his stomach, giving a peculiar grunting sound meanwhile. A muzzle is the best prevention, but is not always efficacious, and the animal may be turned into a box with smooth sides and fed off the ground; but crib biting is, like other bad habits, a very difficult one to cure. Wind sucking is even worse, as a proficient in this most undesirable accomplishment sucks in the air through his tongue, and, like the cribber, is better sold forthwith without a warranty. CHAPTER VI BITS AND HARNESS The question of bits is a difficult one to write upon, as horse owners are very divided in opinion on the subject ; but it is safe to say that, as a rule, the vast majority of light horses go about their work very much overbitted. This is partly due to ignorance on the part of their owners ; but even well-informed persons^ who know better, are often offenders in this respect, as, in the first place, people consider that a horse cuts a more imposing figure if his mouth is filled with iron, and, secondly, a severe bit has the effect of causing him to fidget and fret, which conveys to the public the erroneous impression that the animal is possessed of an inordinate amount of fire and mettle. It is quite impossible in an elementary work to attempt to enter upon a description of all the many bits which are used at the present day, and still less is it possible to give a list of the scores of inventions which from time to time have been foisted upon the public as being necessary for the well-being of horse- flesh and the comfort or safety of riding and driving men. At the same time, still harping upon the inadvisability of overbitting, it may be stated, as a matter of opinion based upon experience upon the part of the writer, that nine-tenths of the horses now at work will shape better and be far more comfort- able if plain snaffles were in their mouths. Many a D 50 THE HORSE hard pulling or reputedly evil-tempered animal owes his bad name to the fact that his mouth, originally a tender one, has been utterly ruined by injudicious bitting, and cases have been known by the dozen in which horses with very bad reputations have become completely reformed characters through the substitu- tion of snaffle for the severe bits which have been previously forced upon them. After the snaffle comes the Liverpool bit as a safe and moderate invention, and this can be strongly recommended for general purposes, whilst both the Pelham and massive elbow bits find many supporters amongst driving men. Such abominations as that instrument of torture the Hanoverian bit, with a post of inches deep and occasionally garnished with a set of barbarous keys, should never be adopted by the amateur without due consideration and the advice of experienced friends, for though it is admitted that very exceptional cases deserve very exceptional treatment, it is equally true that a punishing, cruel bit is quite as likely to