her of these, as the _Horse_. A _Beast_ Valiant, Strong,
Nimble and Hardy, the Vivacity of whose Spirits, neither Heat can
scorch, or dry up, nor Cold benumb or freez; he is Valiant, Watchfull,
and Laborious, naturally Cleanly, and of exquisite Scent; Gentle and
Loving to man, docile, and of a retentive Memory, and Apt or Fit for the
performing any Service wherein man employes him. And for the Use of
which I am now speaking (_Racing_) he ought to be endued with these
Qualifications. That he have the _Finest Cleanest Shape_ possible, and
above all, _Nimble_, _Quick_, and _Fiery_, _apt to Fly with the least
Motion_; nor is a long Bodied contemptible, it assuring _Speed_, tho it
signifies _Weakness_ too. The _Arabian_, _Barbary_, or his Bastard, are
esteemed the best for this Use, these excelling _Jennets_, though they
are good too.
Having furnished your self with a _Horse_ thus qualified, you are to
observe his right and due _Ordering_, before your designed _Racing_.
_Bartholomew-tide_ is the most proper time to _take him from Grass_; the
day before being Dry, Fair, and Pleasant: That Night let him stand
conveniently, to empty his Body; the next day _Stable_ him, and feed him
with _Wheat-straw_ that day, and no longer; lest you exceeding that
time, it straighten his _Guts_, heat his _Liver_, and hurt his _Blood_;
for want of _Straw_, Riding him Morning and Evening to _Water_, Airing,
or other moderate Exercises will serve. Then feed him with good old
sweet _Hay_, and according to the Season, and Temperature of his Body
clothe him; for a _Smooth Coat_ shews _Cloth_ enough, and a _Rough Coat_
want of it. Observe likewise where you _Water_ your _Race-Horse_, that
it be a Running _Water_, or Clear _Spring_, far distant (a Mile or more)
from the _Stable_, adjoyning to some _Levell_; where after he has once
well drunk, Gallop him, and so _Water_ and _Scope_ him, till that he
refuse to drink more, for that time; then Walk him gently Home, (being
an Hour on your way, or more) clothe, and stop him round with soft
_Whisps_, and let him stand an Hour upon his _Bridle_, and after feed
him with sweet sound _Oats_, throughly dryed either with _Age_, _Kilne_,
or _Sun_; if he be low of Flesh, or bad Stomacht, add a third part of
Clean Old _Beans_, to two parts of _Oats_, or wash his _Oats_ in Strong
_Beer_ or _Ale_.
For _Dressing_ take these _Rules_. _Dress_ your _Horse_ twice a day,
before you _Water_ him, both Morning, and Evening,
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