XXIX. 



Training for a Military Race It is impossible to lay down 

 fixed rules for training a service mount to run a military 

 steeple chase. The care of the animal as well as his work 

 will vary with his breeding, but an officer or a non-commis- 

 sioned officer training his horse must pay constant attention, 

 in all cases, to: 



1. The amount of work; 



2. The condition of the legs; 



3. The appetite. 



1st, Amount of Work. Training a service mount for a 

 military steeple chase does not involve such complete con- 

 ditioning as is required in training a thoroughbred for a flat 

 race. Moderate work should be sufficient to put him in 

 condition, keeping in view the main object which is to 

 bring him up to his maximum strength and energy on the 

 day of the race. First, it must never be forgotten that the 

 less the horse has of pure blood, the less he should be work- 

 ed into condition for a speed test. 



About two months are required to prepare a horse, fol- 

 lowing a well chosen program and working only rarely at 

 full speed. It is better,' if possible, to have the horse a lit- 

 tle above condition to start with, that is, fat rather than 

 poor, because it is easier to take off fat than to gain weight 

 by building muscle. 



Each day's work should be of about two hours duration. 

 Exercise should be given in the morning as far as possible, 

 at any rate in summer, so as to avoid the heat and the flies. 

 Give the horse one, or at most, two quarts of oats about one 

 lu)ur before work. 



1st and 2nd Week. Exercise the horse at a walk; work 

 him once or twice every day at a trot for a mile or two, and 

 at a gallop for half a mil(\ Twice a week give him a mil(^ 

 at a very moderate gallo]). 



