196 TRAINING THE TROTTING HORSE. * 



thing, and, therefore, the reassuring effect of having a 

 companion with him is very beneficial, and renders the 

 work easier for both trainers and colts. By leading 

 one after the other alternately they learn very quickly, 

 their natural inclination to follow each other being a 

 helpful influence. Let the boys lead them to the pad- 

 docks in the morning and back to the boxes at night, 

 lead them to grass and back, and to and fro, around 

 here and there, until they are perfectly gentle, halter- 

 wise and easily caught. If this training has been 

 intelligently and gently done, the colt will come to call 

 in the fields and show all the confidence of an old 

 horse. The colts should never be meaninglessly played 

 with, or petted beyond reason ; nor should they ever be 

 teased, frightened, whipped or in any way abused. 

 My advice to every breeder and owner is that if 3^our 

 man abuses your colt, or horse either, no matter how 

 good a trainer he may be, never overlook more than 

 the first offence. At the second "bounce" him. 



All this time, of course, the colt is to be right well 

 fed and cared for. Each pair will be kept in a clean, 

 warm, well-ventilated box, and each one attended to 

 and fed as though the whole hope of the farm depended 

 upon him. He will relish oats, good grass and hay, 

 and don^t be afraid that he will eat too much. After 

 he is thoroughly halter-wise he will be ready for the 

 lesson in preparation for his turf career. This is given 

 in the miniature track — or, as it may be called, the 

 kindergarten — and as this is a very important factor in 

 our system of training, and one invented and used at 

 Palo Alto, I will describe it with some fullness. 



The evolution of the miniature track is part of the 



