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OATS

—are the well-known farinaceous grain which is the principal food and support of horses in constant work. After various experiments by NATURALISTS, and the most celebrated AGRICULTURISTS, they are found to convey a greater portion of nutriment to the frame, and invigoration to the system, at less expence, than any other kind of food whatever. The advantages of obtaining the heaviest in weight, the brightest in colour, and the sweetest in hand, are too self-evident to require a single line in elucidation. Oats newly housed, and newly threshed, should be avoided, if possible: not having acquired their proper firmness by TIME, they are more disposed to fermentation when mixed with the juices in the stomach, and then propel the contents of the intestines in a state little short of liquefaction, by their own laxative property. When, from any temporary scarcity, or local consumption, old OATS cannot be procured, and necessity compels the use of new, a few beans may be added; these, by their restringent and nutritious property, will check the effect of the new oats, and prevent the debilitating laxity just described.

OBERON

—is a horse of some recent celebrity: he was bred by Mr. Hutchinson, and foaled in 1790; he was got by Highflyer, dam (Queen Mab) by Eclipse, out of a Tartar mare. In 1793, when three years old, he won the GOLD CUP at Doncaster, value 100 guineas; beating Cayenne, Ninety-three, Skypeeper, Restless, Flora, and Chigwell. The same day he won the Doncaster Stakes of 10 guineas each, thirteen subscribers; beating Huby, Restless, and Yarico. In 1794 he won at York, a subscription of 25 guineas each, seven subscribers; beating Yarico, Huby, and Tantararara. In the same week he won the great SUBSCRIPTION PURSE of 277l. 10s. 0d. beating Patriot, Yarico, Young Diomed, Rosalie, Camphire, and Champion. At Malton he was beat in a sweepstakes of 20 guineas each, by Lord Fitzwilliam's Evelina, a three-year old by Highflyer, who carried but 5st. 10lb. to whom he ran second: the odds were very high in his favour at starting; and whether he sustained an injury is not publicly known, but he was then withdrawn from the turf.

OFF-SIDE

.—The right-side of a HORSE, if you stand parallel with him, and look the same way, is the OFF-SIDE; as the left is the NEAR-SIDE. When speaking of any part of a horse, it is not usual, in sporting terms, to use the words right or left; but to say the near-shoulder; the off-eye; the near-leg BEFORE, or the off-leg behind.

ONION

—is an article which would not have found its way here, but in consequence of its great utility upon a certain emergency, which entitles its property to be more universally known. No trifling occurrence can possibly occasion more temporary mortification to a SPORTSMAN, than to see his horse labouring under the STRANGURY (or suppression of urine) after the long stage of a journey, or the severity of a chase. In such cases, the first FARRIER is generally called in, who proceeding upon the "KILL or CURE" system of former times, prepares a potion of the most powerful urinary stimulants, plentifully besprinkled with SPIRITS of TURPENTINE, oil of juniper, and other equally mild and efficacious ingredients, frequently laying the foundation of inflammation; when an onion being peeled, and a small clove or two of the inside properly insinuated within the SHEATH, may nineteen times out of twenty be expected to produce the desired effect, without the interposition of any medicine whatever.

OPENING the HEELS

.—The ceremony of opening a horse's heels is sometimes necessary, when they are become contracted by so constantly standing upon the dry litter, and hot dung of stables, in the Metropolis; a circumstance which occurs much less in the country, where the defect is but little known. Although there can be no doubt of a hoof's contracting in a great degree by the means already mentioned, it must be more so, where the hoofs are not OILED or STOPPED for weeks, or, probably, months together. It is, however, a matter of doubt, whether the back-handed stroke of the smith's rasp in SHOEING, is not a more constant or frequent cause of the narrowness of the heels than any other. Let it arise from whatever cause, the remedy with them is always ready; "OPEN THE HEELS;" or, in other words, cut away; first with the BUTTRESS, and then with the drawing-knife, till little or nothing is left to cut: when the basis of bearing is taken away, the heel is let down to the ground, the TENDONS are put upon the STRETCH, the horse, being divested of his natural support, hobbles like a cripple, and there is no remedy, but to wait with patience for a perfect regeneration of parts so wantonly destroyed.

OPODELDOC

—is an article of external use in STRAINS, BRUISES, and other complaints, as well with the human species as with the brute creation. It is prepared by dissolving three ounces of Spanish soap, and one ounce of CAMPHIRE, in a pint of SPIRIT of ROSEMARY. Others dissolve the soap and camphire in rectified spirits of wine, adding OIL of ORIGANUM, and other essential oils. Its excellent properties are universally admitted in its various applications to the human frame; but doubts naturally arise how far it may contribute any great portion of EFFICACY to HORSES, or to any other animal, where the soap again coagulates, and constitutes so matted a mass upon the surface, that it is only with persevering difficulty the hair can be disunited even at the second application.

ORIGANUM, OIL of

,—is a well-known essential oil, extracted from the plant whose name it bears: it is an admirable collateral corroborant, when incorporated with judicious proportions of such other medicines as are proper for STRAINS, or a relaxed state of the TENDONS. If used in too great quantities, or added to heterogeneous articles, it disunites itself almost immediately; and, instead of executing the office of a gentle STIMULANT, penetrating the pores, assumes the power of the milder class of CAUSTICS, occasioning an eschar upon the part impregnated, terminating with a loss of hair.

OROONOKO

—was one of the most celebrated horses of his time: he was bred by the late Lord Portmore; was got by Crab out of Miss Slamerkin; foaled in 1743; and was own brother to Othello, the famous Black and all Black.

OTHELLO

—was the first name of that justly celebrated HORSE, so firmly fixed in the memory of every old SPORTSMAN of the present generation, by the more distinguished appellation of Black and all Black. He was bred by the late Lord Portmore; was got by Crab out of Miss Slamerkin, who was got by True Blue. He was foaled in 1745, and was esteemed the first racer of his time, producing afterwards, as a STALLION, some very famous runners.

OTTER

.—This is called an amphibious animal, living (to a certain degree and length of time) with as much seeming ease in the water, as he does upon land. It is, however, well ascertained, that he cannot exist long under the water, without occasionally reaching the surface for necessary respiration. The favourite and principal food of the otter is fish, of which he consumes, or rather destroys, a very considerable quantity in the neighbourhood of wherever he fixes his residence. This is formed under ground, in the bank of river or lake, and constructed with so much precaution, circumspection, and sagacity, that not without great difficulty can it be discovered. Although fish, in the genial months of summer, are known to be his pleasurable pursuit, and chief subsistence, yet, in the severe and frosty season, he is not without his alternatives, and will then condescend to make a repast upon some one or other of the smaller animals with which the fox indulges himself at all seasons of the year.

OTTER-HUNTING

,—a sport at present so little pursued, was formerly in constant practice, and is said to have been then in great estimation: it is, however, to be presumed, it was in less enlightened times, and long before the different chases of STAG, FOX, and HARE, held forth a speedy prospect of their present perfection. Hounds were then kept and trained for the purpose; and as some proof of the stupidity of the sport, or the somniferous dispositions of those who pursued (or enjoyed) it, an account of the CHASE, if worthy to be termed so, is here literally transcribed from Mr. Daniels' recent publication.

"The sportsmen went on each side the river, beating the banks and sedges with the dogs; if there was an otter in that quarter, his seal was soon traced upon the mud, as the water, wherever it would admit of it, was lowered as much as possible, to expose the hollow banks, reed-beds and stubs that might otherwise shelter him: each hunter had a spear to attack the otter when he vented, or came to the surface of the water to breathe. If an otter was not soon found by the river-side, it was imagined he was gone to couch more inland, and was sought for accordingly; (for sometimes they will feed a considerable distance from their place of rest, choosing rather to go up than down the stream.) If the hounds found an otter, the sportsman viewed his track in the mud, to find which way he had taken. The spears were used in aid of the dogs. When an otter is wounded, he makes directly to land, where he maintains an obstinate defence: he bites severely, and does not readily quit his hold: when he seizes the dogs in the water, he always dives with, and carries them far below the surface: an old one will never give up while he has life; and it is observable, that the male otter never makes any complaint when seized by the dogs, or transfixed with a spear; but the pregnant females emit a very shrill squeal." This sport, as it is called by those who profess themselves its admirers, is still continued in many remote, fenny, and watery districts; but in general is principally confined to those parts where, from local circumstances, the other more noble and exhilarating distinctions of the chase cannot be enjoyed.

OVER-DONE

.—A horse is said to be over-done, when both his FRAME and SPIRITS are so exhausted with fatigue and excessive labour, that he sinks down in his stall almost immediately after reaching the stable; where he extends himself at every extremity, giving evident proof of the struggles nature has to encounter, by the bodily disquietude under which he continues distressed for many hours, and sometimes DAYS, before he becomes perfectly recovered. When a horse is reduced to this state, by a too long continuance at slow or steady work, no doubt of recovery need be entertained with a few days nursing; but if it has been occasioned by a continued and persevering speed with hounds, and a long journey home, danger may be apprehended: instances are infinite, where internal inflammations have arisen, by which existence has soon been destroyed.

OVER-REACH

.—An over-reach is such injury (either cut or bruise) as is frequently sustained in the heel of a horse's FORE-FOOT, by one of the SHOES BEHIND; and this happens during brisk action, in either TROT or GALLOP, where the ground is unexpectedly deep and deceptive: or when a horse is thick in the shoulders, and slow in action before, the hind-quarters are thrown in faster than the fore-legs can get out of the way, by which inactive, or sluggish tardiness, the accident is occasioned much oftener than by any other means.

When neglected, or unattended to, if the injury is severe, ill consequences may ensue; the first step to prevent which is, to wash the part well with warm water, slightly impregnated with vinegar: press upon the wound a linen cloth till quite dry, then apply a pledget of lint or tow, well wetted with FRIAR'S BALSAM, or compound TINCTURE of MYRRH, covering it securely with a proper bandage, with a view to harden the surface, which is the leading object to be attained. This may be repeated the following day, if necessary, to farther close the mouths of such lacerated vessels as continue to ooze a lymph or ichor. If, however, the cut should be of such magnitude as to resist these means of intentional termination, it must be treated as a WOUND, and the horse not permitted to encounter WORK or dirt during its progress and cure. No greasy or unctuous applications should be made, if it can possibly be done without; as the best and most expeditious cure will be made by hardening the surface, and preventing a discharge; unless there is a deep destruction of parts, in which case it cannot be obtained but by incarnation.

ORMOND

,—a horse of much recent racing celebrity, bred by Mr. Wentworth in the north of England, was foaled in the year 1789; got by King Fergus; dam (Miss Cornforth) by Matchem; grand-dam by Sampson; and great grand-dam by Regulus. In the Craven Meeting at Newmarket, 1792, he ran second to John Bull for the great produce stakes of 200 guineas each, across the flat, half forfeit, thirty-five subscribers; beating Hotspur, Whiskey, St. Paul, Lucifer, Guildford, and others. The same year, at York, he walked over for a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, five subscribers. In 1793, at York, he won a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, fourteen subscribers. In 1794, at York, he won a fifty pound plate, added to a subscription purse of 227l. 10s. 0d. four miles, beating five others. In 1795, he won, at York, a subscription of 25 guineas each, eight subscribers. The next day but two he won the great subscription purse, value 277l. 10s. 0d. beating Chariot, Constant, and Screveton. After which he appeared but twice on the turf, becoming a STALLION at five guineas each mare, and five shillings the groom.

OVERTON

,—another son of King Fergus, dam by Herod, grand-dam by Snip, great grand-dam own sister to Regulus, was bred by Mr. Hutchinson, and foaled in 1788. At York, in 1792, he won a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, half forfeit, twelve subscribers. The same week he won a fifty-pound plate, added to a subscription purse, beating Rosalind, Storm, Halbert, and two others. The next day he beat Halbert a match four miles, for 300 guineas, giving him a stone. At Doncaster he won the GOLD CUP of 100 guineas value; beating Huby, Rosalind, Smoaker, Gentleman, and Colchis. At York, 1794, he beat Halbert two miles for 200 guineas. After which he was taken out of training, and became a STALLION at Skipton, near York, at TEN GUINEAS a mare. He is the sire of those famous horses Cockfighter and Rolla, bidding fair to become of more considerable celebrity.