214 TRAINING AND RACING. 



we may safely be guided by the way he scrapes, after 

 his morning gallop, in judging of the manner in which 

 his condition is progressing, and whether he requires a 

 sweat, or more or less work, so that his sweat may be 

 gradually reduced down to the desired consistency. 

 When a horse is gross, his sweat is thick and greasy to 

 the touch ; but when he is in perfect condition, it is 

 generally scanty, comes off as clear as water, and dries 

 almost as soon as the scrapers have passed over the sur- 

 face of the skin. He will then have the smallest amount 

 of fat in his system, compatible with his nerves remain- 

 ing for but a very few days in good order. Of course, he 

 should be wound up to this concert pitch, only just before 

 his race. 



Here I am, naturally, supposing that the animal is of 

 the sort which bears being drawn fine. 



When a horse, after slight exertion, breaks out into a 

 watery and copious sweat, and dries slowly, we may be 

 pretty certain that he does so through weakness, and 

 that he is in a most unfit state in which to continue 

 training. In fact, what such an animal would require 

 in this case, would, as a rule, be a few linseed and 

 bran mashes, some green food, and several days' rest. 



Many excitable horses, when in the most perfect con- 

 dition, will break out into a copious sweat if brought on 

 to a race-course. This should not be confounded with 

 sweating from weakness, or grossness. 



The great thing to avoid is getting a horse fit too 

 soon. Condition is only relative, for a horse may be in 

 perfect training, although showing little muscle; but 

 what we want is quantity, as well as quality of muscle, 



