Grooms are much in the habit of giving the horse a dose or two of physic before sending him to grass. I do not think that any is necessary, yet it appears to do no harm. Physic, they say, prevents the grain from fighting with the grass; but this is a nonsensical theory. The horse may have tumid legs, or some other thing the matter with him, and for that physic may be useful. It would be so whether the horse went to grass or remained at home. But so far as the mere change of diet and lodging is concerned, physic is quite unnecessary.

To prepare the horse for exposure to the weather, the clothing to which he has been accustomed is lightened, and then entirely removed, a week or two before turning out. The temperature of the stable is gradually reduced, till it be as cool as the external air. These precautions are most necessary for horses that have been much in the stable, and particularly in a warm stable. If the horse go out at the end of summer or in autumn, he should go before his winter coat is on. If its growth be completed in the stable, its subsequent increase may not be sufficient to keep the horse warm. In autumn, he should not go out while moulting. For eight or ten days previous he should not be groomed. The dust and perspiration which accumulate upon the hair, seem in some measure to protect the skin from rain and from flies. The feet should be dressed, and the grass shoes, or plates, applied a week before turning out. If injured by the nails, the injury will be apparent before much mischief is done. At grass it might not be noticed so soon. On the day of going out, the horse should be fed as usual. If he go to grass when very hungry he may eat too much. Indigestion will be the result, and next morning the horse will be found dead.

Weather permitting, night is usually chosen for the time of turning out. The horse is not so apt to gallop about. Let loose in the daytime, many are disposed to gallop till they lame themselves, and to try the fences.

In autumn, or early in spring, the stable preparation for grass is often insufficient. If the horse be tender, or the weather unsettled or cold, he may require to be taken home every night, for perhaps the first week. For eight or ten days longer, it may be proper to house him on very wet or stormy nights. If there be no sheds in the field, it is an act of charity to bring the horse home when there is snow on the ground. The stable assigned to him should always be cool, not so cold as the external air, but never so warm as if he were accustomed to it.