Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-10-15
THE MANAGEMENT OF HORSES.
By an Old Officer ofthe French CnValry.

HeeincSS md Agility
On the courses IN England, horses have per
formed feats which may be considered astonish'
| ing they have outgtripp d the wind, aud have
been known 10 go OF leagues in II 10 hours
IL has been asserted that the Arabian horse has
often travelled 80 leagues in the desert without
stopping or b ing unbridled. Exercise should
always be propol toned 10 the strength OF the
animal but it is certain that forced exercise is
no, so pernicious as absolute rep0se ; and tina!
a horse overworked will not be exposed to AZ
| MANY maladies as one abandoned in a stable
| without exercise or work. Excessive repose
| soon transforms a good horse into a Jade. His
| form alters, his viyacity is changed into slug.
| gishness aud languor, his perspiraiion is stop
ped ; hence the return of all the forces OF the
exterior to the interior which occasions dispr
ders OF the intesiines. Circulation languishes,
particularly that ofthe lymphalic vessels. Mus,
cvlar action loses its action and spring the air
becomes ~yitiated because IL cannot be renewed
and his respiration y obstructed. Then ensues
The diarrhna, the iolten grease, {gras J0ndu, }
worms, choking u the first passages (premieTes
soies, lin a word, all the psoI ick maladies ;
the horse is in a state OF fatness contrary 10 ma
tnre-blemishps come on the eXtremiiies-such
are the evils that arise from con lnoed repose.
A horse should then be often exercised, and if
that be impossible, his food should be changed,
diminish his ration, and give him only straw |;
water him often and he careful 10 put salt in
his water, and TO administer aperitiYes, as crude
anthony mixed with his oats and above all
do not neglect rubbing, because In this case it
should supply the want ofexercise.
II is important TO know that there are mala-
dies that will resist the mos, skilful and method.
ical treatment, il regular and moderate exercise
- - - - A. -. tRaft,RN 81 thp ~
d~icines-the scab, the farcy, &c. are Of this
kind.
The accidents which arise from excessive ex.
ercise, are the termination Of the forces from
the interior to the exterior the muscular action
absorbs these same iorces-the interior organs
languish, the circulation of the blood is aug
mented as well as all the secretions-lt becomes
poor and thick in fine the muscles fall in the
same state as from want Of exercise they are
in a complete state of inertia. Someiitnes when
the exercise has been excessive. the anlInal fails
dead from the exhaustion OF It's forces some
times there is not, in these cases, IN the interior
any apparent organic injGry--at other times The
diaphragm is found broken on the membranes
9th stomach. 1t happens too when the horse
has been fonn3ered, that he is found attacked
Suddenly with fever, vertigo, %tetanus, inflamma'
ton Of he lungs, ruptures and spasm OF all the
muscles.
From violent exercise results mnrusne lex.
treme leanness) and premature old age-too
often brought on by the capricious Tyranny OF
man.
The horse thus ruined, preserves sometimes
a devouring appetite in this case, II has fooa
be iudiciously given, he may be restored this
is what is called a ,e.mades horse. Commonly,
after this pro.tration of his forces, he loses his
hair, his shape becomes sensibly altered, the ar
i~iculatio ns enlarged, the limbs become eotee-
blcd and distorted.
II we would know how to prevent all these
accidents, nothing is easier il is TO spare ~
exercise and in work the strength of the horse,
and to proportion his nourishment TO the servI'
ces we wish 10 exact from him. Should his
| work he increased, his food ought to be aug
mented in proportion, in order 10 supply the
losses. He should rest al least "a 'pur after
| fec ding-after riding. he should moi be fed Ill
| an interval OF half an hour al least has elapS-
ed.
II is as essential TO regulate the repose ant
| exercise Of the horse as his food, If we wouIo
keep him in the state most proper for his pres
| ervation. Moderate work preserves his strength
/ fayors the circulation necessary 10 the ANNA
economy, and aids all the seereiions. Ihi
principle is so true, that horses in regiments o
~cagalry have often been seen to thrive on 'h'
march, and arrive al their destination in a bette
state than when they sci out.
1t should moi be forgotten that the work shoul'
be proporiioned to the streRgth-to wish that
horse Of four years should render the same ser
vices as oae OF seven, is absurd. five neglec
10 spare horses during the time that nature EN-
| ploys for the developement Of the body of tn
s~imaL we shall soon see them before the 81