DEVELOP SPEED IN HORSES. 37 



as does not the removal of fat, when that removal is 

 dependent on other agencies than muscular exertion. 

 Exercise is the only means of effecting this change of the 

 muscular system, and the amount of work best adapted 

 to effect this end is varied in almost every animal that has 

 to undergo the conditioning process. As the fat is wasted, 

 there ought to be a proportional increase of muscle, and 

 which will invariably ensue if the training has been prop- 

 erly attended to. 



Sweating under clothes has also a local effect. This 

 is an advantage which no other system of depletion can 

 boast of, and the benefits of which can hardly be over 

 estimated. If it were otherwise, we would be compelled 

 to bring one part of the horse's body much lower than we 

 would like it in order that some other part might be in a 

 condition to stand the requirements of fast work. 



There is nothing like the danger of over-sweating the 

 neck that there is in the chest, which will bear a great 

 deal 'of reduction. We may reduce the muscles that 

 cover the shoulder-blade loo much, but the intercostal 

 and abdominal muscles will bear some reduction if it is 

 necessary to get rid of any fat in the immediate vicinity. 

 There is a vast difference between young and matured 

 horses, both as to the necessity and effects of sweating, 

 and the treatment given some aged horses would ruin a 

 colt. The reason is, that young horses are not so fat in- 

 side as older ones, and reducing them inside would be 

 accompanied by the wasting of the muscles. Till colts 

 can go fast enough to tire themselves, there is ordinarily 

 no necessity for sweating them under clothes more than 

 enough to cleanse the skin. They will sweat enough in 

 their work to answer all purposes. 



THE SWEAT. 



The nighi before you sweat your horse, give him a 

 bran mash in lieu of his regular feed of grain, and only 

 half the ordinary allowance of water, and half his usual 

 allowance of hay, and if a gross feeder muzzle him. In 

 the morning, give him not over two o^uarts of oats when 



