98 THE TROTTING-JIOESE OF AMERICA. 



without danger of overdoing the thing. It must be remem- 

 bered, that, at this early stage of his preparation, the horse 

 can bear very little compared with that which he will 

 endure with ease, and which may be undertaken with im- 

 punity, when his condition has become forward. It is a 

 rule with some to administer physic before the work of the 

 horse is commenced, but I have never been able to perceive 

 the wisdom of such a course. It is to be supposed, that, if 

 the horse has been wintered well, the secretions will be 

 moderately active, and the bowels regular when the time 

 to commence work comes. In such a case, what necessity 

 can there be for physicking? It may be apparent that 

 some medicine is required to abate internal heat and humor, 

 or it may happen that the horse is gross and fleshy from 

 having been overfed while standing still. In such cases a 

 mild dose of medicine may be given with advantage ; but, 

 instead of administering it before the work is begun, I 

 commonly prefer to jog for a few days, then let up, and give 

 the medicine. The work, of course, is not to be resumed 

 until the effects of the mild course have passed off; and then 

 it is to be carried on with quite as much care as in those 

 cases where there was no necessity for physic perceived. 



