88 The Practical Stud Groom. 



hand, should brush the foal over with his right. Continue 

 this treatment daily till the pupil loses all fear of the chain, 

 rein and brush. The next stage is tying up to the rack 

 chain. After having brushed over the foal, with the long 

 rein attached, take off the rein and tie the foal to the rack 

 chain with a piece of stout twine, strong enough not to 

 break at a moderate strain, but which will snap promptly if 

 the foal rears or throws himself down. Do not attempt to 

 brush the foal over ; let him stand, unmolested in any way, 

 for half-an-hour and thoroughly grasp the situation. Then 

 let him loose. Continue this stage of the training until he is 

 perfectly quiet and reconciled to being tied up. The long 

 rein may then be discarded entirely, and the chain and 

 twine can take its place, always remembering to brush the 

 head and neck before the foal is tied up. Finally, when 

 the foal has lost all nervousness, and is thoroughly cognisant 

 of the role played by the chain, the twine can be dispensed 

 with, and the chain attached direct to the head collar. The 

 golden rule is " to make haste slowly"; to rush the foal 

 to the second stage of the training before he is well grounded 

 in the first, is to court a mishap, with its resulting attack 

 of " nerves " and panic, which will tax the stud groom's 

 patience and ingenuity to soothe. 



The value of this thorough early training of foals in 

 stable manners will be fully appreciated when they are 

 "taken up " as yearlings to be prepared for their journey 

 to the training stable or public sale. This final stage, which 

 marks the end of the " beer and skittles " portion of the race- 

 horse's career, will be got over in half the time and with 

 twice the facility if the preliminary tuition during foalhood 

 has been thorough. They will load on to rail or steamer 

 handily, the trainer's task will be appreciably lessened, and 

 accidents will be few and far between. 



