216 TRAINING AND RACING. 



Detail of Work. rTo proceed to the routine of train- 

 ing, one should first consider what length of time the 

 horse has to get fit in before running. If there be five 

 or six months, they may be divided into three periods ; 

 namely, preparatory work, and first and second pre- 

 parations, each lasting from seven weeks to two 

 months. 



Before commencing any work, the horse may get 

 the following alterative ball : 



Bnrbadoes aloes ... .,. ... 1 \ to 2 drachms. 



Nitre ... ... ... 3 



Tartar emetic ... ... ... 1 drachm. 



Treacle enough to make a ball. 



But if he be gross, or with not the best of forelegs 

 to stand the work necessary to reduce his system, a 

 physic ball (of four drachms of aloes and two of ginger) 

 should be given. Before administering the medicine, the 

 corn should be stopped, and bran mashes substituted, 

 for a couple of days. 



I think the morning, say about 9 o'clock, is the safest 

 time to give a ball to a horse, and that there is then 

 little chance of his becoming over-purged during the 

 night, when help cannot be readily obtained. 



The first month's exercise may consist of walking 

 for a longer distance than the horse has done during 

 the summer, say eight miles in the morning and four 

 in the evening, varied every second day or so by a 

 couple of miles trotting, or a slow canter for half a 

 mile now and then. In fact, the work should not 

 exceed gentle hacking. On commencing the second 

 month, the trotting may be stopped, and slow canter- 



