HOW TO TRAIN A COLT. 189 



save in the exercise-lot. The reason is, that in no other 

 place can they get that rapidity and variety of movement 

 absolutely indispensable to their growth, health, and 

 vigor. The first thing, as I have said, to which to pay 

 attention, is the development of the lungs. The 

 lungs must, in the first place, be built up in size. 

 The larger the bellows, the stronger the blast. Large 

 lungs — as large as nature can be made to grow — is 

 what every horse kept for speed wants. Secondly, 

 the lungs must be of fine texture. The \mig-sub- 

 stance must be of excellent quality, — elastic and tough ; 

 able to bear the strain of inflation and the shock 

 of collapse without pain or injury when the horse, on 

 a hot, muggy day, comes struggling to the judges' 

 stand with the driver's voice in his ear, and the driver's 

 whip laid at every stride across his rump. It is lungs that 

 win on such a day and race. Bone-structure won't do 

 it ; muscles won't do it ; nervous energy won't do it : 

 lungs, and lungs alone, win in such contests. If you 

 would realize the force of this, try a short race yourself 

 Start off and run forty or sixty rods even at your 

 sharpest jump: very likely, before you have gone half 

 that distance, you will begin to discover where your 

 lungs lie, and the value of ivind. Now, what was it that 

 gave out, and made you stop so suddenly ? " Pain 

 in my side, shortness of breath," you reply. Exactly. 

 Your leg-bones were all right ; your feet didn't pain 

 you ; your muscles could have carried you forward 

 a mile ; your determination was strong enough : but 



