228 TRAINING THE TROTTING HORSE. 



CHAPTER XX. 



WEIGHT IN THE SHOE — USE AND ABUSE THE LAST 



RESORT WHEN WEIGHT IS NEEDED — REDUCING 



VALUE AND NECESSITY OF EARLY WOEK EARLY 



TRAINING NECESSARY FOR HIGHEST RESULTS AT 



MATURITY IN ACCORD WITH SCIENCE THE ILL 



EFFECTS OF NEGLECTED EDUCATION A CASE IN 



POINT — A VALUABLE MARE RUINED WORK FEW 



MILES, IF ANY THE MOUTH CHECKING AND DRIV- 

 ING THE COLT NOT TO BE CONTROLLED BY MAIN 



STRENGTH TO DRIVE WITH "•A SILKEN THREAD" 



. LIGHT HANDS NO BREAKING IF POSSIBLE CATCH- 

 ING THE WHIP SIDE PULLING. 



I HAVE sought, in the illustrations just related, to 

 show that we are too apt to jump to the conclusion 

 that colts need weight when the difficulties that pre- 

 sent themselves could be remedied without resorting 

 to this artificial assistance. I need not enter into any 

 argument to shoAV that the ideal trotter will trot 

 barefooted, needing no balancing other than what 

 nature has given ; and that the use of the shoe is 

 simply to protect the foot. This is a self-evident 

 truth, needing no elaboration. Every additional ounce 

 of weight has its detrimental influences — it may be a 

 necessit}^ but none the less an evil because a necessary 

 one. You will, therefore, endeavor to reduce weight, 

 and do not, under any pretext, increase it until you 



