138 HOUSE POKTKAITUKE. 



thoroughly cleaned, dressed, their feet picked out, the 

 sole and horn washed, and their legs lightly hand-rubbed, 

 followed by their bed being properly arranged. At seven 

 o'clock they must have their fall supply of water, the 

 balance of their daily quantity of oats, and about six 

 pounds of hay ; after which the stable must be closed, not 

 to be entered, unless some accident occurs, until the fol- 

 lowing morning. 



The walk is commenced in the small yard adjoining the 

 stable, that a little of the exhuberance of animal spirits 

 may be worn away before going into the field, where the 

 increased space may tempt the colts into a frolic. When 

 this walking has been prolonged to a suitable length of 

 time the muscles will have acquired some firmness, the 

 joints set, and the whole economy of the frame in a po- 

 sition to undergo the second stage with increased advan- 

 tage. The training of race horses, while it necessitates 

 more care to bring them to the post in proper condition, 

 has the advantage of the distance being regulated to what 

 the trainer thinks is right. With trotters, after leaving 

 the slow and medium work, we cannot exactly foretell 

 what the distance will be. The brush that was only in- 

 tended to have been of a quarter or half a mile, ha 3 been 

 changed by the horse acting badly, so that, in order to 

 give a lesson in breaking, the work has been prolonged 

 more than was anticipated. Hence it is good policy to 

 have the animal doing rather below the mean, so that the 

 lengthened exercise his temper obligates will not be det- 

 rimental. Your rough-coated favorite, King, not being 

 amenable to ordinary laws, will not, I suppose, deign to 

 walk in company with any of the others. I hardly know 

 what shall be done with him. 



PUPIL. My high bred protege has lately given an ink- 

 ling of making a companion of Oriole, in the absence of 

 his mother, and I think I can teach him to take his walk 



