154 TRAINING.^ 



Training in India and training in England are 

 certainly diiferent,* but there is no difference in 

 the principles ; and those consist in condensing 

 the greatest quantity of pure muscle into the 

 smallest possible bulk, and so gradually to raise 

 the muscular powers and wind to that degree 

 of perfection that every atom of speed may be 

 drawn out without any distress being exhibited, 

 and without the slightest damage to the legs. 

 In effecting this consists the whole arcanum of 



* The Arab, it has been justly said^ cannot be trained in 

 India as the EngUsh horse is in England : but the remark 

 holds good reversed ; the English racer could not be trained 

 in England as the Arab is in India. The difference of country, 

 climate, food, and the manner in which the two, from infancy, 

 are reared, require an alteration of system, and render much 

 of the artificial means pursued in England unnecessary ; but 

 the English race-horse, notwithstanding his wonderful perform- 

 ances, will, perhaps, not stand more training, more-actual gal- 

 loping, before he comes to the post than a high^'caste Arab ; 

 and yet an English thorough-bred will easily outstrip the best 

 Arab, in either pace or distance, and beat him in daily journeys, 

 or contintiance of labour ; though, for these two last, the Arab 

 might prove victorious, if on his own native soil. 



Arab blood is a little in disrepute just now, owing to those 

 that have been exported from this country having been of a 

 very mediocre caste ; but I do not believe that a thorough-bred, 

 genuine, unblemished Arab horse, and certainly not a mare, 

 of the proper build and stamp, would be objected to — the one 

 for a stallion, and the other for a brood-mare ; or either to be 

 crossed with suitable-sized English thorough-breds — by any of 

 the great racing breeders at home ; .and if twenty genuine, high 



