The horses employed in stage-coaches, mails, canal-boats, railways, and other public conveyances, are all prepared for work in nearly the same way; some difference, nowever, must be made according to the pace and the horse's condition. The proprietor usually allows a certain time to feed and to exercise the horse. It is supposed by a great many, that a new, an unseasoned horse, can not be in condition for work till he has been fed for some days or weeks upon hard food, oats, beans, and hay; some exercise is given, but, in general, I think not enough. They speak and act as if the feeding were the most essential part of the preparation. It is a great deal; but the exercise is quite as important. There is no kind nor quantity of food, that will, by itself, put a horse into condition for fast work. Unless he have exercise, gradually increasing in speed and distance as he can bear it, and increased till it closely resemble the work, the work can not be done easily nor safely.

The ordinary length of a stage is eight miles; but the owner of a large stud should endeavor to have some four-mile stages. At this short distance, unseasoned horses can easily be prepared for the longer stages, and while under preparation they are earning their food.

Some proprietors give physic and some bleed, but unless the horse be lusty, or very large-bellied, or the weather very hot, physic and blood-letting are not imperiously demanded.

In Mr. Lyon's stud the preparation is short and simple. • Upon the first day the horse is tried in harness. If very fat, he gets one dose of physic, but in general no medicine is given. The horse is put at once upon working diet; he gets walking and trotting exercise for a week or ten days, and subsequently he goes to the road. In the first fortnight the horse may do only half work, going, perhaps, only half a journey every time he is out, or a whole journey every second or third day. By the end of four or five weeks, the horse is usually ready for full work.

Mr. Fraser, of the Eagle Inn, usually puts each new horse through a course of physic, generally consisting of three doses He believes that the physic renders the horse less liable to inflammatory complaints; and when he is fat, it cer tainly does so. Some, however, do not need three doses, and some do not get more than one or two.

The work performed by coach-horses varies from fifty to eighty miles per week, according to the pace, weight of load, and condition of the road. Four-horse coaches, going at nine miles per hour, and weighing about forty-five Hundred weight, usually require a horse for every two miles, counting the distance both ways. A coach running between two places forty miles distant, employs about forty horses to take her away and bring her back.

In some cases the horses work every day, in others only thrice a week, doing, however, double the work every day they are out. When it can be so arranged, it is much better for the horse to do eight miles every day, than to do sixteen every second day.

The work is not always quite regular. An able horse has occasionally, perhaps once or twice a week, to perform a double journey, one of the team being defective, able for only half work, or during a few days unfit for any.

The Glasgow and Paisley Coaches are horsed by Messrs. Lyon and Walker. They run every hour. The distance is very nearly eight miles, which is done in one hour by two horses. When snow lies deep, three and sometimes four are put to the coach. The horses stand for three minutes at halfway. They work five days a week, doing sixteen miles each day. They go and return, resting from one hour to six. This is full work; but in busy times the horses sometimes run a double, or even treble journey, getting some indulgence for a day or two afterward. Defective and unseasoned horse? do only half work. They may go out to-day and not return till to-morrow. Some others, very good horses, but easily injured, are so arranged that they shall have a longer time to rest. They usually rest one or two hours after the first stage before commencing the second; but these delicate horses are sent out in the morning, rested all day, and returned at night. Many, with bad wind, bad appetite, or bad legs, are thus kept at full work, who would be knocked up in a week, if required to perform the second stage in an hour after completing the first. Coaching-horses rarely receive any exercise on blank days.

They are kept in the stable, well-bedded, and encouraged to lie.