SWEATING for the TURF
—is a sporting ceremony with training-grooms, to which, in their opinion, no small probable consequence is attached; as is fully confirmed by the invariable punctuality with which it is performed. The two reasons assigned for the necessity of this operation, is to preserve the WIND in its proper state of purity, and to prevent a superfluous and improper accumulation of FLESH. Horses in training are (in strict conformity with this intent) sweated at certain periods, or intervals, of six, seven or eight days each; which are brought nearer to, or delayed farther from each other, by the increasing or reduced state of the subject so to be sweated. The ceremony is performed in the morning, soon after the dawn of day, under the ancient superstitious opinion, that the AIR is then more pure than at any other part of the twenty-four hours; and with those whose department it is to execute the office, as much imaginary consequence appertains to it, as to making up the most important national dispatches at the principal office of Administration.
The horse intended to be sweated, is previously loaded with a profusion of sheets, quarter-pieces, and horse-cloths; the number and weight judiciously proportioned to the quantity of perspirative matter it is intended he should lose: when all which is completely fixed in the stable, he is then brought to the exercise ground, with a light or feather weight upon his back, where, after having been walked time sufficient to afford ample opportunities of unloading the carcase by excrementitious evacuation, he is permitted to start for a sweat of two, three, four or five miles, according to his age, his strength, his state of flesh, and the kind of race (in respect to distance) he is in training for; as well as the sort of course he is intended to run over. It is a most judicious and confirmed rule in sweating, that the horse is to begin at a very slow rate, and so continue till he has covered half the ground he is to go, when he should have his speed moderately increased during the third quarter, so that his fourth should be at a degree of speed very little short of his rate in racing.
Having ran his ground, and pulled up, he is walked in hand for a few minutes, to give time (in the language of the turf) for the sweat to come out, which, when the cloths are taken off, follows in copious streams that the animal seems to enjoy. At this moment two assistants are ready with each a thin wooden instrument, called a scraper, made of oak or ash, in shape resembling half the blade of a mowing scythe, (narrowed at the ends for the convenience of the hands,) with which they scrape the sweat from the neck, back, sides, belly, and quarters, so long as the least moisture is observed to appear; the moment which ceases, the scrapers are exchanged for wisps of soft straw, or separated hay-bands, 'till the body, and every part, is perfectly clean and refreshed. He is then furnished with dry sheets, hood, &c. brought to the ground for the purpose; when being led home to the stable, he is supplied with the necessary quantity of soft water, a little warm, previous to undergoing a regular and complete dressing, with greater nicety, than in the open air: when this is systematically gone through, he has a farther moderate supply of water, which is most commonly (though there are occasional deviations) followed by a warm and comfortable mash; upon depositing which in the manger, and setting the stable fair, the door is closed for a double period of the usual hours for going to stable when a horse has not been sweated; and although he undergoes the afternoon and evening routine of being fed, set fair, &c. he is neither stripped, or goes to exercise, any more on that day.