Exercise before the Race 129 



his horse so critically that by this time he knows 

 just what to depend on. 



Preparing for the race. — The evening before and 

 the morning of the race, feed the horse his usual ra- 

 tion. After breakfast give him his morning jog of 

 three or four miles and care for him much as sug- 

 gested in the daily program (p. 125). Be sure to 

 give a light feed after the jog, exercising care that he 

 does not gorge. In the case of horses that eat their 

 bedding, it may be necessary to provide a muz- 

 zle. About eleven o'clock give a fresh drink 

 and feed the usual noon ration. In two hours, or 

 shortly before the time for calling the race, hitch 

 him to the sulky and jog two or three miles. Now 

 let him out, carrying him well within himself for one 

 mile, but at some point driving him to the limit to 

 see that he has his speed. Take him to the stable, 

 and by the time he has been cooled out as suggested 

 in the daily program, the hour for the race will have 

 arrived. 



DRIVING 



Now that we have followed the education of the 

 trotter from the time he was foaled to the sound of 

 the bell calling him to the race, we will consider fac- 

 tors of more general application, such as driving ; 

 improving the action by bitting, shoeing and condi- 

 tioning ; injurious results of defective action, as inter- 

 fering, forging, overreaching, hitching and like topics. 



