for a Journey_.
The famous _Childers_ moved 82½ Feet in one second of time, which is
nearly at the rate of a Mile in a Minute; for he ran round a course
at Newmarket (little less than four miles) in six minutes and forty
seconds; a degree of Velocity, which no horse has been known to exceed.
Another account avers that he ran over another course at Newmarket
(which is 380 yards more than Four English Miles) in 7½ Minutes.
In general, the Racers run round the Four Mile course in about seven
minutes and forty seconds, or eight minutes, which gives Forty-four
feet six inches in one second of time, and twenty-four English feet at
each stretch.
The late Duke of Queensberry, on the 29th of August, 1750, won his
wager, that he would produce a machine, with four wheels, which should
pass over 19 miles in six minutes. The Carriage was made by Wright, of
Long Acre, and was constructed partly of Wood and partly of Whalebone;
and for the Harness, Silk was substituted for Leather.
The match was run at Newmarket, and four blood Horses rushing on with
a velocity almost rivalling the progress of sound, darted within the
appointed time to the Goal.--See an Engraving and particular Account of
this Carriage in the _Gents. Mag._ for 1756, p. 440.
It would be happy if a Law were passed to prevent the furious spirit
of Gaming which prevails at _Horse Races_:--this amusement might also
be rendered useful, which it is not at present, for Horses of most
Speed, are generally of least Use.
If _Premiums_ were allotted to those who brought to the field the
strongest and most beautiful Horses of the best paces for the Saddle,
Coach, or Cart, the Breed of these useful Animals might be really
improved.
As managed at present, _Horse Racing_ is but one remove from the
barbarous practice of “_Bear-baiting_,” and “_Bull-baiting_,” against
which that excellent practical philosopher, _Montaigne_, has protested
his honest Indignation, that “Few people are pleased to see Beasts
caress, or play together; but many seem delighted to see them lacerate
and worry one another.”
HINTS
TO
PURCHASERS OF HORSES.
To decide by the first appearance of a Horse, as to what he may
prove on continual Exercise, is a perfection of Judgment which not
even Experience itself can confer. Those erudite Equestrians, _Will
Whipcord_ and _Sam Spur_, candidly assured us, that
HORSES WHICH ARE FOR SALE
are usually so pampered and highly fed, and have the interstices of
their Muscles so filled with Fat, that their real shape, I. E. their
form when in full Exercise, and with their ordinary Food, cannot be
imagined.
If Dealers meet with a Horse that is unable to stand to the work they
require of him, they let his Business be so light, that it may be
merely Play to him--and so keep him in Condition till they can dispose
of him.
Appearances are so deceitful, that the above-named skilful Jockeys
confessed to me that they frequently found themselves mistaken. In the
selection of a Horse, we rarely seek for latent good qualities, when
the Eye is disgusted by deformity. A Horse of true proportions strikes
the fancy of every beholder; we immediately assent to the beauty of the
object, and take it for granted that Symmetry must be accompanied with
either Strength or Swiftness. True Judgment is displayed in selecting
a Horse possessing great powers, under the cover of an ill-favoured
outward appearance, and discriminating from among those of a pleasing
form such as are devoid of them.
Many who have written on Horses have attributed much to _the influence
of Colour on the Constitutions of Horses_; but we fancy that Colour
is often suffered to bias the decision on a Horse’s Goodness, when it
should be considered merely as it relates to his Beauty. Many will not
buy a Horse which has a _White Leg_; but _White Legs_ are as likely to
fly as _Black Legs_.
Mr. Mennill, of Leicestershire’s, famous hunter, “_Whitestockings_,”
had four White Legs; and a better hunter never leaped a Gate.
_Childers_ had White Legs.
A Horse of symmetry and good action should not be undervalued from any
peculiarity of Colour. Good Judges of Horses are very indifferent to
the irregularity of Marks, &c. Thus much, however, is certain, that
some colours denote Strength and Hardiness more than others, and are
also more Beautiful; as the Dappled Grey,--Bays, particularly the
Dappled, Golden, and Blood Bays, with the Legs, muzzle, tails, and list
down the back black, Nutmeg Greys, Dark Duns, with mane, muzzle, tail,
and legs, Black.
A mealy Bay and light Chesnut, or what is commonly called Sorrel, are
for the most part delicate in Constitution. The latter is also often of
a hot and choleric disposition.
As the Proverb says,
“_A Good Horse cannot be of a Bad Colour._”
Few things are more difficult to find than Horses that are exactly what
you wish.
“It is a cruel thing to say, but a very true one, that amongst the
present breed of Horses in this nation, a man of any tolerable judgment
can hardly find One in Fifty for his purpose, whether designed to Draw
or Ride.”--_Wm. Osmer on Horses_, 8vo. p. 59.
Many of the Defects of Horses cannot be discovered till they have been
in your possession some days. As that experienced Equestrian, _Mr.
Geoffrey Gambado_, said, some Horsedealers, like some other Merchants,
are “not a bit honester than they ought to be.”
_Mr. Hanway_ observes, that “If the _Gentleman_[24] seldom treats his
_Friend_, (and hardly ever an indifferent person,) with strict honour
in selling a Horse!--what are we to expect of those who have been bred
among Horses?”--_Hanway’s Travels_, 8vo. 1757, vol. i. p. 206.
The only safe, and indeed the only satisfactory plan, both to the
Seller and to the Buyer of a Horse, is to
“Try,
Before you Buy,”
as _Capt. Bindon_ cautions you, “Don’t fall in Love with him before
you Ride him.” In his _Gentleman’s Pocket Farrier_, printed at
Edinburgh in 1731, of which most of the works with a similar title are
incorrect copies, with merely another name to them.
Deal with a respectable Man, to whom you have been well recommended,
and stipulate, that if after a Trial for a day or two, you do not like
your purchase, that upon paying a certain Sum you may return it. This
sort of Agreement will not always be acceded to, unless you are known
to the Dealer, and are a constant Customer.
_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.