1?5 



generally the best of these. Horses which lunge out with the straight 

 knee, or jump and bound like deer, whatever may be their speed for a 

 few hundred yards, can never be mad,e trotters. 



This pace depending on the extent and form of the shoulder, a nag of 

 promise may be selected in his youth, and capital trotters may, and are, 

 bred from trotting stallions and mares, as in the districts already stated. 

 To those who aim at having trotters in the highest perfection, it is a 

 great object to ehuse them young, and before they are battered to 

 pieces, and rendered unsafe, their common fate, before they arrive at the 

 full age. By their form of going they ought to be the safest of all 

 Horses, whilst unhurt in their limbs. Whether, for a single mile or two, 

 or for an hour, capital trotters have ever been scarce, and have always 

 commanded a high price; for example, suppose a mare or gelding, at 

 this day, six years old, unblemished, sound, and equal to fifteen stone, 

 to be worth, at market, eighty pounds, warrant it to trot sixteen miles in 

 one hour, and it would, with still more readiness, command one hundred 

 and sixt3^ 



A nag Avill begin to shew something of his trot at four years old, and if 

 he can, at that age, trot handsomely, and with his knees well bent, a mile 

 in four minutes, he maj' improve and become a capital trotter, for dis- 

 tance, granting that he neverattain the rapidity of the mile horse, which 

 is, indeed, nature's gift, and never to be acquired by training. In traiur 

 ing a young trotter, allow him a year or two. In his exercise, seldom 

 orneverurge him to the top of his speed; accustom him to pull well and. 

 steadily at you, never suffering him to hitch, lead with one leg, or to 

 fall into a shuffling and confused run, between trot and gallop. Ever, 

 oblige him to finish his trot in a walk, but if by chance he fly into a 

 canter or gallop, accustom him to turn round instanth', according to the 

 established rule of the trotting race. The common double-reined curb 

 bridle, with a fair and moderate bit, is the most proper for a trotter, the 

 rider favouring or checking his Hoi'se's mouth, with the snaffle or curb, 

 as he shall feel occasion. 



The labour being so racking and severe to the joints and the feet, no 

 Horse can be equal to an hour's trotting, until arrived at his full strength, 

 at the earliest, six years old. And here is a vast advantage over tha 



galloper. 



