222 TRAINING AND RACING. 



in England. And that English blankets, and not country 

 ones, be used, as the texture of the former is much 

 closer and softer than that of the latter. The clothes 

 and distance may be arranged as follows : 



Put a thick rug over the horse's back in the ordinary 

 manner, then take a long blanket, fold it lengthwise in 

 two or three folds, so that it may not be too broad, pass 

 one end under the horse's belly to a man on the off side, 

 make him draw it towards himself till it be properly 

 divided, and pass the ends one above the other over the 

 horse's back, so that the rug and blanket may be tightly 

 wrapped round his body. A long blanket, folded like a 

 shawl, is passed in front of the horse's chest, and well up 

 his neck, so that it may not interfere with the action 

 of his forelegs the ends are now crossed over his neck, 

 chest, and withers, and are brought down on each side, 

 under the place where the saddle will come, which is now 

 put on, and will keep his chest wrapt in its place. A 

 couple of hoods the underneath one having the ears 

 cut off complete the clothing. The horse may now be 

 sent on his journey, the length of which, as well as the 

 amount of clothing, will depend on the style of the 

 animal and on the heat of the weather. If the sweat be 

 given in September, October, February, or March, it will 

 be quite enough to send a stout, hardy, well bred horse 

 two miles at a trot, or very slow canter, and another two 

 miles at half speed, which would be about 6m. 20s. for 

 the latter distance (taking into consideration the extra 

 weight of the sweaters), while the pace may be slightly 

 improved for the last half mile. After this, he is trot- 

 ted to his rubbing down shed, the girths of his saddle 



