RULES FOR GALLOPING. 211 



a little off his feed. By observing such indications, in 

 time, the chances of overworking a horse will be materi- 

 ally lessened. 



Never fully extend a horse earlier than a fortnight 

 before the day on which he has to run, for if this be done, 

 he will be apt to get slow ; yet, for all that, he should be 

 sent along pretty fast, occasionally, during the latter part 

 of his training, in order to vary the monotony of the 

 work, " and to get the pace into him." 



Avoid trying your horses against each other, or against 

 the watch. 



" When a horse gets to know his speed in his exercise 

 it is seldom he can afterwards be got to struggle well in 

 a severe contested race." (Darvill.) 



On finishing a gallop, always turn round towards the 

 inside of the curve on which you are galloping, but if 

 the direction be in a straight line, turn in preference to 

 the right about, as you would on a right-handed course. 

 This practice will tend to prevent horses learning to 

 bolt off the course, for when they do so, they almost 

 invariably go off towards the outside and not to the 

 inside of it. 



If on a race-course, finish the gallop a couple of 

 hundred yards beyond the winning post, and then gradu- 

 ally pull up. 



Have the rubbing-down shed placed beyond the 

 winning post, and on the inside of the course. 



Avoid galloping horses in clothing, as it cramps their 

 action, while the extra weight tends to shorten their 

 stride, and strain their legs. 



I cannot help condemning the practice, many adopt, 



