There are few instances of the Ornamental triumphing over the Useful in a more ridiculous degree, even in this Age of Eye-Architecture,[25] than in the usual management of Horses, which some people seem to suppose are as fond of Heat as Crickets. I have almost wondered that Stables have not been furnished with Stoves to keep them of a regular Pine Apple heat: this might improve the appearance of a Horse’s Coat: the fineness and smoothness of which seems to be the grand desideratum.
Providence has protected the Horse with a coat of Hair sufficient to defend him from the inclemencies of the severest Climate, which Providentially begins to grow thicker about the month of October, and increases in thickness as the Cold to which he is exposed increases.
But it is the Fashion at present to fancy that his Stable and Clothing cannot be too close: in fact, many Horses are treated like Hot-house Plants, and thereby rendered so delicate and tender, that they are morbidly susceptible of all that vast train of complaints which are caused by what is called
“CATCHING COLD.”
The Door is generally the only entrance for Air, and that only when it is occasionally open: the very threshhold of the Door is frequently stopped up with Dung, and the Key-hole filled with Straw. In the Morning, when the Door has been shut all Night, especially in Summer, the heat is intolerable, and the Air absolutely unfit to breathe. It is surprising that these poor creatures are not oftener found stifled by the steams from their own bodies:—added to this, they are perhaps muffled up in thick and tight Body Clothes.
“In Summer a single Sheet is fully sufficient for a Horse Cloth, and in Winter, one Woollen Cloth is all that is requisite. Neither Hacks nor Hunters should have Head Cloths or Breast Cloths, which, though ornamental, are something worse than useless, for they keep a part, while at rest, warm, which, as soon as the Horse gets out, is the part that most meets the Cold Air, and is most exposed.”
Hot-House Horses suffer severe Rheumatisms, &c. upon every trifling occasion:—a change of Stable—a Shower of Rain—standing still for a little while in the open air, produce a variety of Disorders, Lameness, Stiffness in their Joints, &c. &c.: in attempting to remove which, after they have been tormented by cramping Shoes and Pailsful of Physic, &c., the poor creatures are pronounced incurable, and given over as “Foundered in the Chest,” or “Shook in the Shoulders,” or some such equally unintelligible Jargon.
“Till at last, having labour’d, drudg’d, early and late,
Bow’d down by degrees, he bends on to his fate;
Blind, old, lean, and feeble, he tugs round a Mill,