43 HAY SEED, OE HOW TO 



CHAPTER XVI. 



^VINTERIN^T A TROTTER OR PACER WITH THE VIEW OF 

 CAMPAIGNING HIM THE FOLLOWING SEASON. 



Unless a horse has some infirmity at the close of the 

 season when it is intended to devote his powers to racing 

 the following season, there is no good reason as I can see, 

 for a complete let-up in his training. But if he is weak in 

 his legs, and it is evident that comparative rest will not 

 lenew his accustomed strength and stoutness, he will have 

 to have a let-up, and a course of blistering or firing re- 

 sorted to, and before you do it, if you are not a compe- 

 tent judge yourself of what is necessary to be done in the 

 case consult some Veterenarian of standing in his pro- 

 fession and follow his directions in the matter. But if 

 on the contrary, the horse is all plumb on his legs, a 

 season of comparative rest and good care, will take him 

 through the Winter, and bring him out in the Spring in 

 fine fettle, and eager again to renew the contest which 

 will be ever ready to welcome him, providing he is not a 

 * ringer." After you get him home, give him a chance to 

 eat all the fresh grass he wants, and let him up in his 

 work, jogging him short distances about every other day, 

 and if there have been any inflammatory symptoms about 

 his legs or elsewhere, they will shortly disappear. You 

 can have his shoes removed and replace them with a set 

 of tips, which will answer all purposes for him to do his 

 jogging in, and will give his feet a chance to expand by 

 allowing the heels to come in contact with the ground, 

 but don't stop feeding him a reasonable amount of oats 

 daily. When icy roads have taken the place of soft dirt 

 roads, you will need to have him shod sharp with caulks, 

 and give him work enough to keep him in health and 



