Horses from whom extraordinary exertions are not demanded; those that are never expected nor required to do all that a horse is capable of doing, stand in little need of inurement to work, and it is seldom that any is intentionally given. When a saddle or draught-horse is purchased, he is often put to his work at once without any preparation. He is treated as if he were as able for the work as it is possible to make him. So long as the work is slow, and not very laborious, he may perform it well enough. But this system will not do for full work, whether fast or slow. If the horse have been idle for a month or two, he is weak. It matters little that he is plump and in good spirits. He may be able to draw a load of twenty r thirty hundred weight with ease, and perhaps to draw it a considerable distance But next day he is sore all over, stiff, feeble, dull, almost un-able to carry his own weight. If the same work be exacted day after day, the horse loses flesh, and at last becomes unfit for any work. But if the work be less severe at first, and gradually increase from week to week, the horse at last acquires strength and endurance greater perhaps than he ever before possessed. He is then able to do with ease as much in a week as would have completely knocked him up at the beginning.

For slow moderate work this is all the preparation the horse needs. At first let it be very gentle; and the weight he is to carry or draw, and the distance he is to travel, may be increased as he is found able to bear it. In preparing the horse for work, such as hunting, racing, or coaching, the treatment must be somewhat different. See the next two sections.

Physiology Of Muscular Exertion

By this I mean an account of what is going on in different parts of the body during exertion. Motion produces certain changes, and it is good to know what they are, and for what reason they occur. All can not be traced; but it is satisfactory to know all that can be known. A few preliminary remarks are necessary upon.