COAT.—The coat of a horse (which the hair is called) is not only an object of sporting exultation when the horse is in fine condition, but, to the judicious and penetrating eye, is in a great degree indicative of the state of health. Nothing will so soon demonstrate the _ability_, the _care_ and _attention_ of the GROOM, as the coat of his horse. If the coat is observed to become suddenly rough, standing different ways, with a dusty hue underneath, and the hair to look harsh and bristly upon the surface, the blood is then sizey, and tending to an unhealthy state; the porous system has been collapsed by some chilling exposure to _wet_ or _cold_; the integument acquires a tightness and rigidity, which, if not relieved, soon displays itself in some slight degree of disease: this may, in general, be prevented, by taking away blood, and proceeding upon a short course of antimonial alteratives.
COCKING—was formerly a sport so exceedingly prevalent (from the great and perpetual variety it afforded in _betting_) that matches were constantly fighting between different counties, as well as opulent individuals, and at most of the horse-races in every part of the kingdom, for very considerable sums of money. This practice, however, like every other _species_ of _sporting_, in the course of time, opened so great a field for villainy amongst the subordinates, who become unavoidably instrumental, (as _feeders_, _setters-to_, and _assistants_,) that, in addition to the incredible expence of _breeding_, _walking_, _feeding_, _matching_, removing and carrying cocks from one walk to another, collecting them when brought up to fight, injuries sustained upon their walks, consequent disappointments when taken up, with a long train of collateral considerations, have very much reduced both the _sport_ and the _breed_ in every part of England.
When all the leading expences are brought into one point of view previous to a MAIN of COCKS being placed in the _pens_, and the aggregate of expenditure annexed to the _match money_, (then to be deposited,) it plainly appears, that any man so fighting, is doing it at a disadvantage of _two_ to _one_ against himself. If he wins, he wins but the match money; this, probably, may, or may not, even pay his expence: if he loses, he has then lost both the _deposit_, and his previous expenditure in _breeding_, _feeding_, &c. constituting _loss upon loss_; and if he wins, he is no gainer, because the winning has been absorbed in the predatory payments already described. In fact, COCKING then (divested of every moral consideration in respect to its alledged cruelty) is the most ungentleman-like, the least entertaining, and the most doubtful in probable profit, that any sportsman of honour and integrity can possibly engage in: but as fashions continually vary, and it may hereafter undergo a renewal, farther particulars respecting the sport will be found under the proper heads of GAME COCK, and COCKPIT ROYAL.