DON T TRY TO BEAT THE WATCH. 2S3 



quicker he is suited the better. ^Vhy some horses like 

 an over-check and some a side-check, and why certain 

 bits must be used on certain horses, it is often hard to 

 explain ; but the one fact confronting the trainer is 

 that the mouth must be kept right and the head rigged 

 with check and bit which the horse will not resent 

 and fight, if satisfactory results are to be accomplished. 



The quotation from Splan, with Avhich I wholly 

 agree, reminds me of another remark in his book, from 

 which I must dissent. That is where, in speaking of 

 condition, he states that if you get a horse in condition 

 he will have his speed. That is all right if you have a 

 trotter already made when you get him, but it does 

 not hold in educating horses to trot. You can put a 

 horse that has not ])een taught to trot fast in perfect 

 condition, but condition and speed are not the same 

 thing, though each is essential to a great performance. 

 You must get the speed before condition can carry you 

 ^to the wire in 2:20. 



It is well to learn to drive by the watch, provided 

 you don't try to beat it. It improves a man's judg- 

 ment of pace, and hence teaches him to rate more 

 evenly. The only danger is that the driver will test 

 the horse's speed too often by the watch. Let it be 

 your guide, but not a competitor with your horse. I 

 consider it indeed essential to good and exact training 

 that the driver practice rating by the watch, for he 

 will not only learn to rate better himself, but the horse 

 will learn to trot evenly at almost any rate of speed 

 desired within his limits. 



With these general remarks, we may proceed to 

 consider the colt's preparation for a race, presuming 



