212 TRAINING AND RACING. 



of having their horses galloped constantly in heavy cloth- 

 ing. An English jockey, whose lowest riding weight 

 is say 8 st., will, when not wasting, and when wearing 

 warm clothes on a cold morning, weigh close upon, if 

 not quite, 9 st. ; to this add 7 or 81bs for the saddle, 2 

 to 31bs for the bridle and martingale, and from 14 to 

 2 libs for the clothing, and we will have the animal 

 carrying about 11 st., which is a truly preposterous 

 weight for a training gallop ; and then men, who allow 

 this, will, when their horses go lame or get slow, wonder 

 how in the world it occurred 1 If a trainer wants to 

 get the fat off a horse, by all means let him put cloth- 

 ing on, and give the animal his sweat, a little later than 

 usual in the morning, at a trot, or at alternate trots and 

 canters, so that he may not spoil his action, or risk his 

 legs. When the horse is pulled up, let him be well 

 covered over with rugs till the sweat trickles down his 

 pasterns ; and repeat, every week or ten days, this process t 

 which will take the "beef" off the grossest horse quite 

 quick enough. A trainer should consider the feelings 

 of his horses, for it is only reasonable to suppose that an 

 animal which is constantly galloped in heavy clothing, 

 must feel his movements cramped both by the weight 

 he carries, and by the presence of the rugs, and that he 

 will consequently lose heart for want of the exhilaration 

 of spirits produced by a free and untramelled gallop. 

 The mind of the horse has undoubtedly a great deal to 

 say to the quick, elastic stride, and the lightning dash of 

 speed at the finish, exhibited by a well trained race- 

 horse. 



Admiral Rous, in his book on " Horse-racing," states 



