Litchfield enquirer., 1829-04-16
AGRICULTURAL.
From the American Farmer.

| riding horses, includes what is required for them us pleasure horses for ordinary air i!ngs; and what they require when used for the purposes of travelling or long journey incs. IL embraces also their stable man- agemcnt in general, with the proper care ot horse and stable appointments: all which are usually entrusted to nscrvHnt, popular Iy called groom, whose qualifications should be moderate size, light weight, ac- tivity and courage, joined with extreme mildncss and good temper and above all, natural love of horses, by which every thing required is done as a pleasure for tho animal he loves, and not as task for those he is indifferent to. t.
 7Ns Hackney for gcntlcmcn's airiags should be tn high condition, because fine coat is usually thought requisite; and hero the groom ought to be diligent, that he may keep up his condition by regularity and dressing, more than by heat, clothing and cordialS. Whenever his master does not use his horse, he must not fail to exercise him (but principally by walking,) to keep up his condition, and to keep down useless flesh and swellings ofthe heels. The horse appointments are to be peculiarly bright and clenn.--Thc bridle should be blletted aud buckled, that tho bits may be removed to elem them without soling the leather, and which cleaning ought not to bo done with rough materials, but fne powder and polishing. On the return from exercise, they should be wiped dry and then oiled. Two pair of girths should Do used, that n clean pair may always bo ready, nnd tiic same if saddle cloths arc used.
 IAe prepGrGtion for, and thc care cf q hOrsc Om q journey, involve many rnrticu- lars which should not escape the eye of the master. Tho first is, Is tho horse tn hard travelling conditionl Next Do his appointments all ti', and aro they in prop er order !! The bridle for journeying should be double cnrbcd one. Tho snaf[lo can Do ridden with certainty but the snatlle can not do the work of the curb, in staying a horse, in saving him from the ground under stumbling or fatigue; or throwing him on his launches or in Tightening his mouth. Tho bridle should not Do new, but ono to which tho horse is accustomed. It is of still moro consequence that tho saddlo be one that tho horse has worn before, and that fits him thoroughly. The girlbs should also be- of the best material to prevent ucci- dents; and if tho saddle be liable to come forward, however ojcctionablo tho appear ance,'a cruppor hatl better Do used. Some days before a long journey is attempted. # the shoes u,e not ir order, shoo tho horso 1; but by no means let it Do dono as you set oG, otherwise having proceeded on tho journey a few miles, you find that ono foot is pricked. and lamencss ensues; or, if this bo not tho caso, ono or more Nhoos pirch, or do not settle to tho feet; all which cannot be SO well altered nS by your own smith. .....
 H is dl,c0ys best Go begin long journey by short stages, which accusloms tho horse to continued oxerion. This is tho moro par ticularly necessary. if ho has not been ac- customed to travel thus, or if he bc not in the best condition. Tho distance horso cun perform with case, depends greatly on circumstances. Light carcassed horses, very yuung ones, and such as are low in flesh, require often batting, particularly in hot wenthcr; horses in full condition, above thoir work and well carcassed, and such as arc from seven, or ten, or twelva years old, arc better when ridden stage of fifteen or twenty miles, with propor- tionato lcug,h of batting time afterwards, than when baited often, with short stop- pages tho stnto of the weather should also be considered {; when it is very hot tho stages should be necessarily shorter.
 Io e proper consideration cfthe batting times on q journey, physiology ofdgestion should bo studied. Fatigue weakens the stomach. When we ourselves arc tired, we seldom have much inclination to cat, and fatigue also prevents activity in the di- gostive powers. To allay these consequen" ces, -ido tho horse gently tho last two ol three miles. If handful ofgrass can be got at tho road side, it will wonderfully re- fresh your horse, and not delay you three minutes. In hot weather, let tho horse have two or three go downs(gulps), but not more, of water occasionally as you pass a pond this tends to prevent excessive ta- tiguc. Occasionally walk yourself up hill, which greatly relieves him, and at which time remove the saddle, by shifting which, only half an inch, you greatly relieve him ; and during this time, perhaps he may stale, which also is very refreshing to him. Ii may be as well, in a flin.y country, to take th's opportunity of examining that no stones are Caf into sh., c0o. ELo.s,:so