Cold is much more likely to be acquired in a horse by neglect or indiscretion, than by the effect of chance: it is certainly prevented with more ease than it can be cured; and those who ride or drive their own horses, have this in constant recollection; those who ride or drive the horses of others, have seldom any such recollection at all. Horses are hardly ever known to get colds under the eye of the MASTER, but unluckily he cannot be employed in the eternal superintendance of a servant, nor can he carry the horse in his pocket. Colds unattended to upon the first attack, not unfrequently degenerate to something worse, displaying its progressive virulence upon the eyes, the lungs, or in glandular tumefactions. Colds (in general thought very little of) cannot have their probable tendencies too soon counteracted, particularly when it is remembered, that if the blood is previously in a state of sizey viscidity, an inflammation of the lungs may very speedily follow, and carry off the patient in two or three days, in opposition to every medical endeavour that can be made to prevent it.
A COUGH is generally one of the first and most distinguished symptoms of cold; for the collapsion of the porous system having thrown the perspirative matter upon the blood, its circulation through the finer vessels of the lungs becomes proportionally retarded, and constitutes the obstruction and consequent irritation (or tickling) which almost incessantly excites the cough; to relieve which, all writers agree, that bleeding is the first step to be taken: this to be followed by cordial balls, malt mashes, thin gruel, &c. &c. the particulars of which may be found fully explained in the "Gentleman's Stable Directory," or "Compendium of Farriery," by the present Author.
COLOUR
.—Strange notions have formerly prevailed, and much hypothetical writing and reasoning have been equally produced, to collect sufficient criterions to decide upon, for a proof that the strength and constitutional stamen of the horse depended as much or more upon his colour than his formation. Sound judgment, and rational reflection, would, however, induce a well-founded reason to believe, there is more of fancy or fallacy in such suggestion; and that the old maxim still stands upon firm ground, "a GOOD horse can't be of a bad colour."
The bright and the dark bay, the jet black, the chesnuts, the browns, and the dappled greys, are each proportionally beautiful when in fine condition; and are held preferable in pecuniary estimation to the sorrel, the dun, the roan, the flea-bitten, the strawberry, and the nutmeg or iron-grey. There is a prevalent idea amongst people of a certain class, that many of the latter description are very much inferior in spirited exertion, less calculated for hard work, not such good feeders under fatigue, that they feel the effect of age sooner, that their powers do not continue so long unimpaired, that they are more susceptible of disease, and, lastly, that they are shorter lived, than those called the hardy colours, first mentioned. That there will always be a variety of opinions in mere matter of conjecture cannot be denied, any more than that the framers and supporters of those opinions will magnify mole hills to mountains in defence of their own sagacity; notwithstanding which, it must be admitted, that variety of inferences might be drawn to justify a conclusion, that many of those observations may have the basis of truth for their foundation, if this was the place proper for such elucidation.
Whatever may be the colour of the horse, it is a practice with old sportsmen, and good judges, to reject white heels, and white hoofs, if they can be avoided: experience has proved, beyond all fear of contradiction, that white heels are more tender, and white hoofs more subject to defects, and susceptible of injury, in thrushes, corns, and sand-cracks, than any other; and none more so, than light chesnuts with blazes and white heels: the hoofs are frequently shelly, brittle, narrow at the heel, diseased in the frog, and contracted in the feet. Prudence should prompt every man (in a new purchase) to pay some respect to the lower as well as the upper story; it being evidently more advantageous to reflect in time, than to repent at leisure.
COLLEGE VETERINARY
,—an equestrian establishment for the improvement of farriery: it is situate about a mile north-east of Tottenham-Court Road, at Camden Town, in the parish of St. Pancras, and will be explained more at large under the head, Veterinary College.
COLT
,—in the general sense, and immediate acceptation of the term, implies a produce from Horse and Mare, without adverting for the moment to either the masculine or the feminine gender; but in a more contracted point of view, (as well as in just and sporting-like phraseology,) it is meant to convey an unequivocal idea, that the produce being A COLT, is really so, that is a horse colt,) in contra-distinction to the opposite gender, invariably called a filly. The bone and growth of a colt depends greatly upon two circumstances: the first, his being foaled late or early; that is, early in April, or late in June; as well as the difference of his being weaned in November or March. Although it is admitted that colts (in the first year termed foals) running with the dam during the winter, will afford greater probability of size, bone, and strength, yet it is not at all times it can be complied with, unless in studs, where brood mares are kept for that purpose only, and are left fallow (uncovered) for the season. When a mare has been covered with a foal at her foot, and is evidently in foal again, it should be an invariable rule to wean the foal in October or November, upon the palpable impossibility of giving suck to the one, without an impoverishment of the other. Whether the colt is, or is not, weaned in either of those months, he should be well kept, and have daily supplies of corn and hay, as well as proper stable, shed, or shelter from the inclemency of the winter season. Upon the liberal keep of the two first winters, his size, growth, strength, and bone, entirely depend, and must be particularly attended to, lest repentance come too late; for it must be held in remembrance, that if a colt is small at two years old, from having been stinted in keep, there is not one in a hundred ever attains to good size, by any additional exertions or expence, after the natural efforts for expansion have been so long retarded.