CONTENTS. 



EDITOR'S PREFACE ,.T 



HIRAM "WOODRUFF rvii 



BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR xxiii 



I. 



Reason for writing the Book. Necessity for Practical Experience in Train- 

 ing. The Author's Experience. Improvement in Tracks and Vehicles. 



Causes of Improvement in Time. Originality of the American Sys- 

 tem. Its great Superiority to the English System. Rules as to Break- 

 ing from the Trot 37 



II. 



Handling of the Colt. The Trot a Natural Gait. Great Speed the Result 

 of Long Handling. Method for the Colt. Moderation best in Feeding. 



Early Maturity followed by Early Decay. The Trotter should last 

 Many Years. Feeding of Weanlings. No Physic unless the Colt is 

 Sick. Feeding of the Yearling. The Starving System worse than 

 High Feeding . 44 



III. 



Feeding of the Two-Year-Old. Mouthing and Bitting. Lounging. Tem- 

 per. Leading on th Road. Much Walking to be avoided. When 

 harnessed, a Wagon better than a Sulky. Amount of Work to depend 

 on Constitution and Condition. Remedy for Broken Gait. Pulling to 

 be avoided. Increase of Feed . 51 



IV. 



Effects of Early Development. Colts often overworked. Fast Three- Year- 

 Olds and Four-Year-Olds. Risk of hurting Stamina. Earlier Maturity 

 of Running-Horses. Evils of overtraining Colts 59 



V. 



Actual Training of the Three-Year-Old. No Physic and no Sweat at first. 

 -* Danger of " Overmarking." - Strong Feed of Oats and Hay. Bran- 



