212 THE PEHFECT HORSE. 



There is one peculiarity about the horse in trotting 

 which I have never seen mentioned in print ; and yet I 

 have often observed it, and know it to be important. 

 I refer to the way in which a horse breathes when mov- 

 ing at the top of his speed. It is an erroneous idea 

 to suppose that horses breathe as regularly in action as 

 when standing still or jogging. Indeed, they do not 

 breathe at all for strides at a time when making their 

 spurts. They act precisely as a man does when making 

 a jump. When a man is about to make a great jump, 

 what does he do ? This : He takes in a long breath, 

 filling his lungs to the full, and then goes it ! Not until 

 the leap is made are the lungs inflated again. It is pre- 

 cisely so with a horse when trotting, and about to make 

 a spurt. Suppose you have been trailing, and have come 

 to the last-quarter post three lengths behind the leading 

 horse, which you feel is doing about all he is able to. It 

 is now or never with you. You know it ; and your horse 

 Jcnows it too. You move the bits in his mouth, and call 

 on him. He answers your call with a rush that carries 

 him like a bullet to your rival's wheel. Hold him there. 

 Let him get his breath. If you urge him now, he will 

 break sure. If he can stay where he is, you are all 

 right. He knows what you are at ; and, when you are 

 within fifty yards of the wire, call on him again, and he 

 will jump himself to the front as sure as fate, unless he 

 is positively overmatched, and his opponent is handled 

 in the same way. This is the secret of the grand 

 rushes some horses arc accustomed to make near the 



