TROTTING RACES. 93 



of the art, " is of the utmost importance : it is all in 

 all. Some men inspire it readily, so that a horse 

 will take hold and do all he knows the first time the 

 man drives him. For another man the same horse 

 will not trot a yard. The truth is that the horse is 

 a very knowing, sagacious creature, much more so 

 than he gets credit for. If a driver has no settled 

 system of his own, or if he is rash or severe without 

 cause, it is not likely that confidence will be inspired 

 in the horse, even in a long time." 



It is a fact often remarked, that some drivers suc- 

 ceed much better with certain equine families than 

 with others, the reason doubtless being that they are 

 better adapted to them in disposition. A trainer, 

 for example, who did very well with a well known 

 high-spirited and wilful breed failed conspicuously 

 with another strain, of a milder and more gentle 

 nature. 



There are, indeed, some boisterous drivers, but 

 they are not the most successful; in fact, the 

 quality of a horseman can almost be discovered by 

 observing the manner in which he goes up to the 

 animal's head or enters his stall. The loud, rough 

 fellow may be a judge of soundness, and fairly well 

 qualified for the box seat of a hack; but he is not 

 the man for a close finish with a tired horse, when 

 victory depends upon calling out the last reserve of 

 strength; nor will he make the successful trainer of 

 a high-strung colt. The trotter, moreover, cannot 

 be convinced by mere noise and violence : he is much 

 too clever an animal for that, and will hardly be 

 cheated into thinking that the jockey possesses any 

 quality which he really lacks. But when a driver 



