.—An over-reach is such injury (either cut or bruise) as is frequently sustained in the heel of a horse's FORE-FOOT, by one of the SHOES BEHIND; and this happens during brisk action, in either TROT or GALLOP, where the ground is unexpectedly deep and deceptive: or when a horse is thick in the shoulders, and slow in action before, the hind-quarters are thrown in faster than the fore-legs can get out of the way, by which inactive, or sluggish tardiness, the accident is occasioned much oftener than by any other means.
When neglected, or unattended to, if the injury is severe, ill consequences may ensue; the first step to prevent which is, to wash the part well with warm water, slightly impregnated with vinegar: press upon the wound a linen cloth till quite dry, then apply a pledget of lint or tow, well wetted with FRIAR'S BALSAM, or compound TINCTURE of MYRRH, covering it securely with a proper bandage, with a view to harden the surface, which is the leading object to be attained. This may be repeated the following day, if necessary, to farther close the mouths of such lacerated vessels as continue to ooze a lymph or ichor. If, however, the cut should be of such magnitude as to resist these means of intentional termination, it must be treated as a WOUND, and the horse not permitted to encounter WORK or dirt during its progress and cure. No greasy or unctuous applications should be made, if it can possibly be done without; as the best and most expeditious cure will be made by hardening the surface, and preventing a discharge; unless there is a deep destruction of parts, in which case it cannot be obtained but by incarnation.
ORMOND
,—a horse of much recent racing celebrity, bred by Mr. Wentworth in the north of England, was foaled in the year 1789; got by King Fergus; dam (Miss Cornforth) by Matchem; grand-dam by Sampson; and great grand-dam by Regulus. In the Craven Meeting at Newmarket, 1792, he ran second to John Bull for the great produce stakes of 200 guineas each, across the flat, half forfeit, thirty-five subscribers; beating Hotspur, Whiskey, St. Paul, Lucifer, Guildford, and others. The same year, at York, he walked over for a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, five subscribers. In 1793, at York, he won a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, fourteen subscribers. In 1794, at York, he won a fifty pound plate, added to a subscription purse of 227l. 10s. 0d. four miles, beating five others. In 1795, he won, at York, a subscription of 25 guineas each, eight subscribers. The next day but two he won the great subscription purse, value 277l. 10s. 0d. beating Chariot, Constant, and Screveton. After which he appeared but twice on the turf, becoming a STALLION at five guineas each mare, and five shillings the groom.
OVERTON
,—another son of King Fergus, dam by Herod, grand-dam by Snip, great grand-dam own sister to Regulus, was bred by Mr. Hutchinson, and foaled in 1788. At York, in 1792, he won a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, half forfeit, twelve subscribers. The same week he won a fifty-pound plate, added to a subscription purse, beating Rosalind, Storm, Halbert, and two others. The next day he beat Halbert a match four miles, for 300 guineas, giving him a stone. At Doncaster he won the GOLD CUP of 100 guineas value; beating Huby, Rosalind, Smoaker, Gentleman, and Colchis. At York, 1794, he beat Halbert two miles for 200 guineas. After which he was taken out of training, and became a STALLION at Skipton, near York, at TEN GUINEAS a mare. He is the sire of those famous horses Cockfighter and Rolla, bidding fair to become of more considerable celebrity.
P.
PACE
—is an expression to signify the motion, or progressive action, of a horse, as well as one of the human species. When speaking of a man's pace, it is usual to say, he walks, he runs, or he goes a good pace; which becomes applicable to either, meaning, that he is an expeditious WALKER, a fleet RUNNER, or perhaps both. A horse has a great variety of PACES, as a walk, trot, amble, canter, gallop, rating-gallop, and at speed; some of which many horses have in great perfection, and are exceedingly deficient in others; as for instance, a horse shall be a most excellent TROTTER, who happens to be a shuffling, execrable WALKER; he shall be a gay, airy, light figure in a CANTER, and wonderfully deceptive in speed. Good GALLOPERS are very frequently bad TROTTERS; and perfection is very difficult to obtain.
Some years after the death of that famous horse Eclipse, which happened on the 27th of February, 1789, Mr. Charles Vial De Sainbel, Professor of the Veterinary College, published a work, to prove the unprecedented speed, and astonishing powers, of Eclipse, proceeded from the peculiarity of his construction. The work was embellished with ANATOMICAL, GEOMETRICAL, and MECHANICAL drawings, to establish and confirm an opinion, that the motion of the horse became proportionally accelerated, by the precise proportions of the subject geometrically described. The work itself was elaborate, sublime, and so remotely abstruse, that its contents were very superior to common comprehension; and as it communicated but trifling information, (and that founded upon conjecture,) it established no satisfactory data to engage public attention. Whatever was advanced upon the supposed effects of the geometrical proportions of Eclipse, would but ill apply to the action of the species in general; it being a fact well ascertained by those who are the most practically concerned, and personally interested, that ill-shaped horses of equal blood frequently exceed those of the fairest proportions; and that horses inferior in SIZE shall prove superior in SPEED.