WARBLE
—is a small hard tumour, produced upon the side or the back of a horse, by the heat and friction of an ill-fitted saddle. It is sometimes occasioned by the pad of the saddle's becoming exceedingly hard, and inelastic, from its long and constant absorption of perspirative matter; to prevent which, the pads of saddles should be occasionally inspected, beat with a stick, and the stuffing restored to its elasticity, by the use of a proper awl, or point of a packing-needle. Upon their first appearance, if they are attended to before the injury is repeated, they never fail of submitting to a plentiful bathing of hot vinegar, followed by a gentle friction with camphorated spirits, if twice or thrice repeated; but if they are neglected in the first instance, and the same saddle (or harness) persevered in without alteration, the surface will become an eschar, and ultimately a sitfast, (which see,) and then can only be removed by instrumental extirpation.
WARRANTY
—is the personal assurance the purchaser of a horse receives from the seller, at the moment of terminating the bargain, if such purchase absolutely takes place, that the horse in question is no more than a certain number of years old, (as the case may be;) that he is perfectly free from every kind of vice, blemish, and defect; that he is completely sound, "wind and limb"; or, in other words, that he is in a state of perfection. Much professional jargon has transpired during the last half of a century in the courts of legal litigation upon this subject: and a great law authority who presided once (rather inadvertently, it is supposed) presumed to declare in open court, "that paying 20l. for a horse, was a price sufficient to have the SOUNDNESS implied by the sum paid, and that he should consider the warranty to extend to full three months from the day of purchase." Whether this assertion was merely a lapse of the tongue, or a temporary deviation from sagacity and discretion, is not now worthy disquisition; as it must certainly be admitted to have been one of the most absurd, unequitable and ridiculous opinions ever promulgated in a court of judicial investigation.
In confirmation of which, let it be supposed, that a horse is sold by either gentleman or dealer, known and declared to be bona fide sound at the moment of transfer, and absolutely never to have been otherways; in equity, and in justice, what can the late owner of such horse have to do with his state of futurity? Is not a horse of this description, though sound and perfect, as likely to become diseased, to fall lame, or even to die, on that, or the following day, as at any other period of his life? Where then can be found the consistency, the equity, or, indeed, the common honesty, of requiring or expecting any man to warrant for weeks, or months, what it is not within his power to insure for a single hour? The equitable intent of a warranty, between persons of mutual good intent and integrity, cannot be reasonably expected to go beyond the hour of purchase and sale; for as neither can explore, with certainty, the abstruse pages of the great volume of time yet to come, there cannot be the least plea for a retrospective compensation. See "Law Suits," and "Soundness."
WARREN
,—the name applied to a privileged place, by prescription or grant from the King, in which to keep beasts or fowls of WARREN. These in ancient records were said to be the hare, the coney, the pheasant, and the partridge; but the word now principally applies to any particular district, or tract of land, set aside entirely for, and appropriated to, the breeding and preservation of rabbits as private property. These become a most valuable and profitable stock; paying a much greater annual rent than can be expected from a light and sandy soil, under any other mode of cultivation. There is a distinction between a WARREN and FREE WARREN, (which see.) The franchise next in degree to a park, is a free warren, and appertains chiefly to the privilege of killing game within its boundaries. A warren, in its general signification, extends no farther than a peculiar spot, of much magnitude for the infinitely numerous production of conies, with which the neighbouring inhabitants, and the markets of the Metropolis, are supplied; and these invariably pass under the denomination of rabbit warrens.
WARTER
—is the name of a horse of much celebrity, whose performances upon the turf rendered him of constantly increasing value, and insured him a succession of different owners. He was bred by Mr. G. Crompton, foaled in 1794; got by King Fergus, dam by Highflyer. In the York spring meeting, when three years old, he won a sweepstakes of 20 guineas, six subscribers, beating Dapple, and Telegraph. At Doncaster, in September, he won the following extraordinary race, well worthy a place in the cabinet of every sportsman in the kingdom.
Thursday, September 28th, 1797. One hundred pounds in specie for three year olds, 7st. 5lb. and four year olds, 8st. 7lb. Maiden colts allowed 2lb. Maiden fillies allowed 3lb. The winner of any subscription or sweepstakes carrying 4lb. extra. Two mile heats.