.—The diet of horses in this country is now so universally known, that very little is required upon the subject of explanation under this head. The articles called oats, beans, hay, bran, chaff, carrots, and grains, are individually brought into use, as may best coincide with the pecuniary propensities, or liberal sensations, of the owners. Whatever may be written upon the subject of quantity and quality, will very little influence the enquirers upon those heads; the GENTLEMAN and the SPORTSMAN will never alter their invariable plan of plenty, and of the best quality; but the long list of coachmasters, postmasters, job and hackney-men, carmen, carriers, and inferior tradesmen, who merely exist, under the unavoidable accumulation of taxes, cannot feed their horses as they would, but are compelled to feed them as they can. No particular instructions, therefore, become materially necessary; but some general rules may be laid down for occasional recollection.
The management of horses of every description, whether for the turf, the field, or the road, is now so systematically understood by the different classes of society, that nothing new, instructive, or entertaining, can be introduced under that head. Each horse is supported in a way (at least in respect to quantity and quality of food) individually, and regulated by the opinion of the owner, or the work he has to perform. One conceives, from his own sensations of liberality, even four feeds of corn a day too little; another considers two rather too much. In such contrariety and diversity, who can expect to see opinions concentrate in one particular point? Such hope, if adopted, will be eternally disappointed. It may not be inapplicable to have it always in memory, that it is not the number of feeds, or the quantity of hay, that should constitute the criterion, but the quality of both upon which the nutritious support entirely depends. Three measures of good corn will contribute more nutriment to the frame, and invigoration to the system, than five of bad: and twenty-eight pounds of substantial fragrant hay will at all times be more prudent, and more profitable, than even double the quantity of a very inferior quality.
This data judiciously and occasionally adverted to, will sufficiently widen the ground of information to every comprehension; it being only necessary to hold in memory the additional circumstance, that horses fed too high, without proportional work, exercise, and evacuations, must become full, plethoric, and ultimately disordered; while, on the contrary, those whose blood is permitted to become impoverished from a want of the necessary supply of FOOD, will soon display it in a wasting of the flesh, a contracted state of the crest, and, if long continued, probably produce some of those diseases originating in a serious and acrimonious state of the blood.
DIOMED
—was in great repute as a racer, and afterwards as A STALLION at ten guineas a mare. He was bred by Sir C. Bunbury; got by Florizel; dam by Spectator, and grand-dam by Blank; was foaled in 1777, and proved himself an equal runner with the best horse of his time. As a stallion, he has propagated some of the finest stock in the kingdom. Diomed is the sire of Anthony, Charlotte, Grey Diomed, Laïs, Mademoiselle, Playfellow, Quetlavaca, Sir Cecil, Whiskers, Montezuma, Glaucus, Speculator, Champion, Little Pickle, Michael, Monkey, Young Grey Diomed, Snip, Tom, Robin Grey, Dalham, Guatimozin, Habakkuk, Adela, Cædar, Switch, Greyhound, Laurentina, Poplar, Wrangler, and Egham; all considered WINNERS; exclusive of many others who won MATCHES and SWEEPSTAKES, (as colts and fillies,) but were never named.
DISEASE
—is not only a state of the body directly opposite to the standard of health, but may be defined of two kinds; as those with which we are afflicted by the influence of a superior Power, whose wisdom we are not permitted to explore; and by others that, in acts of neglect and indiscretion, we bring upon ourselves. Diseases are differently conceived: some writers describe them by their cause, some by their effect: leaving the investigation in a kind of medical mystery, bearing no ill affinity to theological ambiguity. In fact, the word is only introduced here to remind every reader, that, in respect to both MAN and HORSE, prevention is preferable to CURE.
DISTANCE
;—a sporting term appertaining solely to the TURF. It is a length of two hundred and forty yards (actual measurement) from the WINNING-POST of every RACE-COURSE in the kingdom; precisely at which spot is fixed a post corresponding with others, but having a gallery annexed capable of holding three or four persons, which is called the DISTANCE-POST. In this gallery, as well as in the gallery of the winning-post, before the horses start each heat, is stationed a person holding a crimson flag; during the time the horses are running, each flag is suspended from the front of the gallery to which it has been appropriated; but immediately upon the first horse passing the holder of the flag in the gallery of the WINNING-POST, he strikes THE FLAG; at the very moment of his doing which, the holder of the flag in the gallery of the distance-post strikes his also, in confirmation that the heat is decided; and such HORSE or HORSES (running for the plate) as may not have passed the DISTANCE-POST before the flag is struck, is then deemed a distanced horse, and disqualified from starting again for the same PLATE or PRIZE. A horse running on the wrong side of a POST, the RIDER not bringing his proper and full weight to scale after the heat, or dismounting without first riding HIS HORSE up to the side of the scale, and weighing, are also deemed distanced horses, and not permitted to start again.