SOILING
,—in the more confined signification, applies merely to the supplying a horse with grass, clover, tares, lucern, fain-foin, or rye, cut green, and brought to the stable for his daily consumption; but in a more general acceptation it extends to the act of turning him out in a plentiful pasture, and in the genial season, when and where he may enjoy all the advantages of which the frame is susceptible. It cannot but be known, that liberty, so dear to us, and to every part of the creation, must be equally so to the horse: to have his limbs free from restraint, to expand his frame, and roll upon the earth, to snort and snuff the ambient air, and to have his coat cleansed and purified by the dew of heaven, is to the horse a state of nature, and a life of luxury. Thus free and uncontrouled, although they are equally subject to, yet they are seldom known to be afflicted with pain or disease, in any degree equal to those who are confined within the limits of a small and offensive stable.
To constitute occasional revulsion, to correct acrimony in the blood, to purify the juices, to invigorate the frame, and reanimate the system, it is absolutely necessary the horse should have his annual run of six weeks or two months in a luxuriant pasture, and at a proper season of the year, if either his frame or health is thought worthy protection. In the Metropolis, and in large towns, where the environs are entirely appropriated to HAY FARMERS and COW-KEEPERS, no such convenience can probably be obtained for any pecuniary consideration whatever; in which predicament the only alternative to be adopted, is to supply them with green food daily, and this is termed SOILING in the STABLE. Even this process, simple as it is, requires some previous precaution. The article with which the Metropolis, and other cities and large towns, are supplied, are mostly tares, (in some countries called vetches;) though clover is at some-times, and in some places, to be procured; but whether one, or the other, it is absolutely necessary the supplies should be fresh, and, if possible, never more than thirty or six-and-thirty hours off the scythe; from which time (particularly if laid in a heap) they begin to heat exceedingly fast; and when once the juices are exhaled, become tough, turn black, and rapidly approach putrefaction.
This, however, must be admitted a very inferior substitute for natural pasture; as repeated experiments, and constant observation, hesitate not to pronounce the NATIVE (in its nutritive and exhilarating property) superior to every artificial grass hitherto introduced. The quantities of the latter grown in various parts of the kingdom (and in some it cannot be avoided) is immense; but no doubt need be entertained of the nutritious superiority of the native meadow grass, whether green or dry, if it is cleanly cultivated, and well got in. It is very much the custom in and about London, to send horses to what are called the SALT MARSHES in Essex, from whence some arrive in tolerable condition; but where, from their contiguity to town, or other causes, the land is overstocked, and the summer dry, they come up in a state of wretched emaciation, as if passing in mournful procession to some neighbouring dog kennel. Those marshes, at a proper distance from town, where they are free from offensive filth, and the pasture plentiful, are remarkable for their peculiar property of attenuation, in altering the property of the blood, promoting the secretions, purifying the system, and invigorating the frame. They are well known to act as perfectly as the most powerful antimonial or mercurial alterative, in obliterating the remains of cutaneous disease; and this is readily accounted for by their first effects, which is for many days equal to a state of medical purgation; to which, however, the subject soon becomes superior in health, strength, and an accumulation of flesh; demonstrating the process to have been a very salutary interposition.
Those who wish their horses to avail themselves of every advantage to be derived from SOILING, will certainly retain it in memory, that TWO months in the prime and early part of the season, will be preferable to THREE at the latter end: a dry summer, short pasture, and the infinity of flies, and other insects, constitute a very sensible drawback upon the privilege of liberty, as well as upon the restoration of FLESH, and the renovation of STRENGTH. Horses in a plethoric state, with a cough, full of blood, or the relics of disease about them, will most likely come up in a much worse state than when turned out. Horses of this description should undergo bleeding, and proper evacuations, previous to their being set at liberty; as the nocturnal collapsion of the porous system might probably repel the perspirative matter upon the overloaded vessels, and thereby render the remedy (in turning out) worse than the disease.
What is termed a winter's run, although attended with promised advantages in some respects, is not without the chance of loss, anxiety, vexation, and expence, in others: frozen limbs, and an empty carcase, are not calculated much for the promotion of flesh, strength, or purity of condition. A horse, by such, is in possession of his shivering liberty, perhaps in some contracted spot, wretchedly despondent over the effluvia of his own excrements, 'tis true; but how far that may compensate for the want of shelter, food, care, and attention, in the most severe, dreadful and dreary season of the year, must be left entirely to the decision of those whose pecuniary sensations may prompt them to make the experiment.
SOLE
.—The external part of a horse's foot so called is at the bottom, and situate between the frog in the center, and the wall or bearing which totally surrounds the outside. This will be the more perfectly understood by referring to Fig. 2. of the letter A in the Plate of "Demonstrative Shoeing," where the SOLE, the WALL, and the FROG, being accurately represented, will collaterally explain themselves in the following description. The outer sole (as it is called in contra-distinction to the inner, which is its membranous lining) is a sound and horny substance; but not so very firm and impenetrable in its texture, as the hoof, by which it is surrounded, and is evidently intended as a protection to the inferior structure of the foot. The sole, to assist generally in constituting what is considered a well-formed and substantial foot, should be thick, strong, and inclining much more to a hollow, than the least appearance of prominence; for when a shoe is well set, no bearing whatever should be sustained by the sole, but the whole must positively rest upon the crust or wall of the hoof, which may be seen in the line of articulation accurately represented upon the Plate; where, on the inside of the circle, will be observed the sole, Fig. 2. on the outer, the wall or crust, Fig. 1. When the bottom of the foot has what is termed a crowned sole, with a prominence similar to the convex side of an oyster shell, and the sole projecting above the circular wall of the hoof, the horse is tender, sometimes halts, and is tardy in progress: such horses are said to be fleshy-footed, and require great care and attention in shoeing; and unless the shoe is properly arched or hollowed within, to take off every chance of pressure from the prominent sole, pain and subsequent lameness must inevitably ensue.
SORREL
—is the colour by which certain horses are distinguished, and might, without any degree of inconsistency, be termed a red chesnut: they are a colour nearly between a bright bay and a yellow chesnut, giving and taking a tinge or shade either way, having invariably manes and tails red or white. When tolerably well bred, of handsome shape, make, and symmetry, with full silver mane and tail, they are majestic, commanding figures, and are, in general, secured as cavalry chargers for field officers, when they are to be obtained of size and strength for the purpose.