BETWEEN HEATS. 291 



most requires, and if he has had a hard race take off 

 his shoes for a day or two, walk him in the dew, give 

 him a little grass, and in general treat him so that* he 

 will be thoroughly rested and refreshed. Then resume 

 work as before, at fast brushes, to improve his speed, 

 and gauge your work at distances by your engage- 

 ments. 



Between heats feed your horse. Jack Feek says 

 that he finds nothing better after a horse has gone two 

 or three hard heats than a quart or two of good, clean 

 oats, and I am inclined to agree with him. I have 

 found oatmeal gruel excellent, though some horses will 

 not eat it. As a rule, however, you can get your horse 

 accustomed to it; and in that -case you should have it 

 ready before the race. He will not require it at first, 

 but after the second or third heats give him a little. 

 It is a mistaken idea to suppose that a hungrv horse 

 can trot and last through a hard race. Certainly he 

 cannot trot on a full stomach, but he must have suffi- 

 cient nourishment to keep him strong. If you have 

 ever felt the weak and "gone" feeling of trying to 

 work on a thoroughly empty stomach, when hunger 

 gnawed, and the body was tired, you will not ask a 

 horse to trot a long race without moderate tastes of 

 food and water. 



Preparation is half the battle in every thing. You 

 should go to the races prepared. See that not only 

 your horse is right and ready, but that everv thing, 

 harness, boots, shoes, sulky, rubbers, and all other 

 belongings, are ready to answer the rec^uirements of a 

 contest that may be lost through some little thing 

 being overlooked. Have a kit of tools with you in 



