THE TROTTING-HORSE OF AMERICA. Ill 



the pitch of condition as art can get him. About three 

 weeks before the race is to come off, he may have his first 

 trial, which will be a mile. Half-mile trials are to be dis- 

 pensed with here ; for the object was to get the three-mile 

 distance " into the horse," and a performance of half a mile 

 would afford no useful indication. It would only tell that 

 he had certain speed. 



The mile trial having been satisfactory, the work is to go 

 on ; and in ten days more, or thereabout, the horse will be fit 

 for his final trial. In getting ready for this, his hay and 

 water over night may be somewhat reduced, and the muzzle 

 is to be put on. The full allowance of oats is to be given. 

 At the actual trial, commence with a mile at good speed. 

 At the end of it, blanket up and scrape, and walk about for 

 thirty-five minutes. Then repeat two miles out. If in this 

 the horse does well, shows speed and freshness, and finishes 

 with go in him, you may be pretty well satisfied that he is 

 in good condition and capable of making his race. A fur- 

 ther trial is unnecessary, and would be likely to result in 

 mischief. 



The trials are never to be as long as the race for which 

 the horse is being trained. In the three-mile preparation 

 there will be walking exercise, probably five or six miles a 

 day, and three or four of driving, with spurts of speed 

 therein ; but, as I said before, no rule can be laid down 

 for the actual amount of work; that must depend upon 

 the horse. I mention the above as a probable amount, be- 

 cause it is not likely that a horse unable to stand up 

 under something like it will be matched three-mile heats. 

 If he is, his owner may look to lose, unless the other is infe- 

 rior in speed and of the same kidney. From the time of 

 the final trial to the race, the work should be the same as it 

 was before, unless the wisdom of a change was indicated by 

 what took place in the trial. If in that performance the 

 horse showed plenty of speed, but pulled up distressed at 

 the end of the two miles of repeat, it would be an evidence 



