196 LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 



rule lias always been that if I want my horse shod to get the 

 blacksmith to do it. The same rule holds good in case of 

 sickness. If my horse needs blistering or any other medical 

 attendance, I get what I consider to be the best veterinary 

 surgeon within reach and let him take charge of the case, 

 and I know of no reason why this rule should not be fol- 

 lowed at all times. "Everyman his own lawyer" gener- 

 ally gets the prisoner locked up, and I think every man his 

 own doctor Avould be a great scheme for the undertakers. 

 In this case, that the horse did not die was due, I am satis- 

 fied, more to good luck than good management. I called in 

 a veterinary, and he suggested a treatment that he thought 

 would serve to allay the inflammation and pain. He man- 

 aged to effect this result, but the swelling never entirely 

 left the horse's legs. 



As the season for training approached, I commenced 

 giving Ford moderate exercise on the road, and then took 

 him to the West Side driving Park to prepare him for the 

 race. The spring being very backward and cold and the 

 track unfit for fast work I made up my mind I would either 

 have to hunt another training ground or I would not have 

 my horse in any condition by the 12tli of June. I concluded 

 that Indiana would be a good place to go to, as they have 

 an early spring and sandy tracks there, but when I sug- 

 gested this to Ford' s owner I met with oiDposition that I had 

 not expected, as he did not see why a horse could not be 

 prepared Just as well in Chicago as at any other place, and 

 freed his mind to that effect. I was so sure that my judg- 

 ment was right that I told him to do one of two things, — he 

 could take my interest in the race, and have Ford trained 

 wherever he chose, or I would take his interest in the race 

 and liave my way about it. Under this pressure he finally 

 consented that I should use my own judgment, and so I 

 took Ford with my other horses to Elkhart, Ind., where I 

 found a good half-mile track, first-class stabling, good 

 roads, and everything favorable for an early prei^aration. 

 I discovered when I begun to drive Ford along, that his 



