THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. 107 



to in order to get rid of the superfluities more rapidly and 

 with less risk to the legs than the regular work would do. 



Where the horse is of good constitution, but positively 

 infirm in his legs, there must be more sweating in clothes 

 and less work without them than' in other cases. In five or 

 six days after the sweat, the horse should be ready to stand 

 a half-mile trial. Unless something has gone wrong, he 

 ought to be fit to go that distance under the watch, and 

 thus afford a certain indication as to his speed and advance 

 toward racing condition. It will not be necessary to muz- 

 zle him over night for this short trial, unless he is a rank 

 feeder. His oats are not to be reduced in quantity ; and he 

 may have his usual allowance of hay, unless he has been 

 accustomed to eat a great deal. His morning feed before 

 the trial may be a little less than usual, and the water re- 

 duced to correspond. The half-mile trial being found sat- 

 isfactory, the work will be carried on as before. Let him 

 jog till he has emptied himself, then move him at three- 

 quarter speed, with sharp and lively brushes to make him 

 square away and get up to his best rate. The amount of 

 work must be gauged by the judgment and skill of the 

 trainer, in view of how the horse goes on and improves, and 

 of his known breed and character. It is quite certain that 

 the thoroughbred horse will improve under an amount of 

 work that will overmark and utterly destroy the chance of 

 almost any horse coarsely bred. Therefore, it is to be ex- 

 pected that a well-bred trotter will take more work with 

 advantage, provided his legs stand, than one of a poorer 

 grade in blood. But, beyond this, it is found by experience 

 that there is a great disparity in the capacity of horses of 

 the same grade to stand work and improve in condition. 

 No rule can be laid down beforehand by which it can be 

 useful and safe to regulate the amount of work it will be 

 proper to give. Until the horse has been trained, it is im- 

 possible to say what he may bear, and what is required to 

 bring him quite fit' on the day that he is to trot for money. 



