THE PACER 85 



alent the reprehensible practice of driving horses 

 wearing hopples in pacing races. Broken -gaited 

 horses that will neither pace nor trot naturally, but 

 have some speed, will be put in strong leather hop- 

 ples, where it is impossible for them to go at any 

 other gait than the pace, and in that way compelled 

 to pace, often being unmercifully punished the greater 

 part of the course. This practice should be prohibited 

 by law. On many race -courses hoppled horses are 

 not allowed to compete. It is very dangerous to 

 drivers, as a tired horse in hopples is liable to fall. 

 Numerous deaths of men and horses have occurred 

 from such accidents. It is also injurious to the breed- 

 ing interests, for many foul -gaited pacing stallions 

 have taken low records while driven in hopples, which 

 are worthless for breeding purposes. They may be 

 taken to places where they are unknown and acquire 

 custom in the stud on the strength of a record which 

 is, in reality, fraudulent. 



