100 THE TROTTING-UORSE OF AMERICA 



ehoukl corn be used as a substitute for the allowance of oata 

 the horse in training ought to have. 



AYhile the jogging and after-preparation are going on, a 

 bran-mash now and then will be proper. Probably about 

 once a week will be often enough, and not too often ; but 

 this will be indicated by the condition of the horse's bowels 

 and by his constitutional tendencies and requirements. If 

 his bowels are relaxed, the use of the bran-mash is not 

 apparent; and if he is of the light, washy order, never 

 having much substance, and easily melting away when put 

 into sharp training-work, mashes are to be given more 

 sparingly than with one of the opposite character. The 

 trainer is never to relax his vigilance of observation, or let 

 his judgment go to sleep and trust to arbitrary rules. 



After the week or ten days of moderate jogging, which 

 has been directed to begin with, the muscles, tendons, and 

 joints will have got some tone, and the w^ind have improved 

 sufficiently to allow of the horse being sent along at half 

 speed ; and he may be started up and moved at three-quar- 

 ter speed for about half a mile. This brush of half a mile 

 at three-quarter «peed may be increased if the horse feels 

 fine, wants to do all he knows, and improves under his 

 work. The next step will be, as soon as you perceive that 

 he stands up well to his work, comes out cheerfull}', and 

 takes it with a relish, to brush him along at speed for a 

 quarter of a mile, or even for half a mile, according as the 

 distance is indicated in the individual case. This brush will 

 open his pipes, and, by making him blow, set the machinery 

 in motion which is to give him wind and throw out the 

 blood from the internal organs when he is called upon to 

 make his extraordinary efforts in the race. He is not, as a 

 matter of course, to be forced in pace up to the extreme 

 that he may be capable of in a close brush with another 

 horse, when the stakes are up and the heat hangs in the 

 balance. Care is also to be taken that his natural ardor 

 Jind willingness are not sufV'^ved to lead into difficulties. 



