66 THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 



running in this country will only carry a very light boy, 

 and the three-year-old weight is but ninety pounds for colts 

 and eighty-seven for fillies ; whereas the young trotter will 

 have to pull as much as George Wilkes, Lady Emma, or 

 General Butler, in a race in harness. Moreover, the run- 

 ning-race for two-year-olds is commonly but a short dash ; 

 while the three-year-old trotter is called upon to go races 

 of heats, and the four-year-old mile heats, three in five. 



But if, after all is said, the owner of the promising three- 

 year-old determines to match and train him, he had better 

 be sure that the preparation is not too severe. It will be 

 better to rely upon the speed and goodness of the colt, and 

 the ability and management of the driver to win, than to 

 screw the young thing up to the pitch of condition at the 

 risk of upsetting him. If the colt is overtrained now, he is 

 not only damaged for the time being, but the injury to his 

 legs, temper, or constitution, will very likely be permanent. 

 There are colts, just as there are some old horses, that will 

 stand almost any thing, and no amount of ignorance and reck- 

 lessness seems sufficient to spoil them ; but these are the ex- 

 ceptional cases, to be avoided, not imitated. With all the 

 care that we can take, and all the caution that we can exercise, 

 we shall find enough of our promising youngsters disappoint 

 us in the expectations we have formed, without running the 

 risk of ruining them by tasks too severe for the immature 

 condition of their bones and sinews, and for that lack of 

 seasoning which accompanies their early years. I admit, 

 that, when a man has a fast colt, the temptation is strong to 

 earn honor and profit by the public display of his powers : 

 but in almost every instance it ought to be resisted ; for its 

 premature indulgence is too often like the conduct of the 

 improvident savages, who cut down trees to get at tho 

 fruit. 



