CONDITION
—is a word in frequent use with the sporting world, to express the state of a horse in respect to his health and external appearance. If low in flesh, rough in his coat, hollow above the eye, and depressed in his spirits, he is then said to be "very much out of condition." But, on the contrary, if full of good sound flesh, his skin loose and pliable, with his coat soft and sleek, he is then said to be in "perfect condition to start," if for the TURF; fine condition to take the field, if a HUNTER; or, if a roadster, to be in good condition to undertake his journey. Horses too full of flesh or of blood, are said not to be in condition, because they are not fit for strong exertions without the danger of disease: brought into constant work in such state, they soon, as it is termed, "fall all to pieces;" that is, if they escape inflammation upon some of the various parts, morbidity soon displays itself, either in a swelling of the legs, cracked heels, bad eyes, defective wind, cutaneous eruptions, tumours, or in one of the many ills to which horses in this state will always be subject.
Experience has so fully confirmed this fact, and custom has so firmly established the great prudence of prevention, that much disgrace and mortification is incurred by both MASTER and groom, who are so unfortunate as to have horses out of condition; and this is so perfectly understood in the present state of equestrian emulation, that the necessity for occasionally cleansing the frame by BLEEDING, PURGING, DIURETICS, or a course of ALTERATIVES, is not only almost universally acknowledged, but generally practised by every judicious and well informed SPORTSMAN in the kingdom.