222 HEAD AND NECK. 



they are employed at fast paces, stand as much work, 

 retain their " form " as long, or get into galloping 

 condition as quickly as those which have been " added 

 to the hst." We see this rule well proved in steeple 

 chasing and racing, as witness the long careers of those 

 geldings, Liberator, Regal, Gamecock (Fig. 311), Rein- 

 deer, and others. For races in the early part of the 

 season in England, geldings as a rule can be got much 

 fitter than entires ; as they need less work. As 

 maturity of horseflesh is required far more at steeple- 

 chasing than at flat racing ; the superiority of the gelding 

 over the entire is particularly observable " between the 

 flags." Owners and trainers who recognise the advan- 

 tage of castrating those colts of theirs which do not give 

 promise of value for stud purposes, are often deterred 

 from putting the operation into practice, on account 

 of geldings being ineligible for many flat events. This 

 prohibition extends on the Continent to a few steeple- 

 chases. I think I may safely say that the large majority 

 of colts which are not worth keeping entire for future 

 stud purposes, should be cut not later than the end of 

 their two-year-old racing career. The records of hunting 

 amply prove the benefits of the operation. Mr. H. T. 

 Barclay's Freeman, who carried his master most brilliantly 

 for fourteen trying seasons over Leicestershire, is no 

 solitary instance of the ability of the gelding to stand 

 work, especially when it is of a nature, like that of jump- 

 ing, to severely tax the soundness of the fore legs. The 

 necessity of the hunter to be light in front, is a subject 

 upon which I need not dwell here. Many experienced 

 trainers with whom I have discussed this subject, hold 

 the same opinions as I do on the practical utility of cas- 

 tration. I think that the majority of trainers will agree 

 with me in saying that geldings not only stand fast work 

 better than entires ; but also recover more quickly from 

 injuries of the fore legs. The lesson to be learned, from 

 a conformation point of view, from the foregoing remarks, 



