THE TRAINING GROUND DESCRIBED. 



59 



CHAPTER VIII. 



THE^TRAINING GROUND. 



A training ground and its essentials described — Its-surface — Extent and shape — 

 Downhill exercise condemned — Distinct courses necessary for summer and 

 winter — The trial ground — Methods of restoring the surface — Newmarket 

 and other sites — Appreciation of situation — A quiet spot recommended and 

 reasons — Effect of publicity on owners — An instance to the point at 

 Woodjates. 



Having learned something of the horse in sickness, and of 

 what is and what is not condition, we may, before proceeding 

 to the consideration of the preparation of the horse in health, 

 give a description of the training ground as it ought to be. 

 There is nothing more essentially necessary to a training 

 establishment than a good training ground. The extent, 

 the nature of the surface, and subsoil, are all matters of the 

 greatest importance and deserve a strict inspection, when 

 selecting a spot. The soil should be neither clay nor sand ; 

 for though the latter may in wet weather afford pretty good 

 going, in dry it becomes very hard and unfit for galloping. 

 Unmixed clay is still worse; for in wet weather it is too deep, 

 and in dry, bakes like a brick, and is very seldom in a state 

 fit to gallop on and then only for a short time. 



The surface soil should be one of a light friable loam 

 resting on a chalky subsoil, sufiiciently retentive of moisture 

 to keep it moderately soft in dry weather, and porous enough 



