MAYONTHEEOAD. 205 



was done with the ground surface of the shoe. I have 

 blamed the short turns of a half-mile track where she 

 has received what little trotting-education she has had 

 for doing the misdhief. The faulty set of the hocks "may 

 have increased the evil, yet it is certain, that, when driven 

 fast on the road, she never sidles or brushes a hair. I feel 

 positive that if this difficulty can be overcome, she will 

 make a very fast trotter. 



PRECEPTOR. We must not ascribe all to the track. Fast 

 horses, and those with perfect action, have been in the 

 same situation, never having seen anything but a half- 

 mile course, where they received their whole train- 

 ing. The two united have operated badly in May's case, 

 and let us hope, that, having now a full mile, with easy 

 turns, we can shape her into the fast trotter you fancy her 

 capable of making. 



PUPIL. I will now drive Delle, and will have to jog her 

 rather longer than May before I can show you her true 

 manner of going. When I purchased her, at three years 

 old, the man who bred her had irritated her so much, 

 that it was quite unsafe to attempt harnessing her in the 

 stable. When she saw any one approaching her with the 

 harness, she would rear as high as the halter rein would 

 permit, flying about the stall perfectly frantic. By taking 

 her out doors, she permitted the harness to be put on with 

 very little trepidation, and in two weeks the uniform 

 kindness she met with eradicated the nervousness acquired 

 from the attempted coercion by her owner. I now direct 

 the boys to harness her some* little time before she is re- 

 quired to come out, and I think the wearing of the har- 

 ness in. the stall has had some effect in tranquilizing her. 



PRECEPTOR. She moves beautifully, and has a great 

 deal of speed for a colt that has not had much handling. 

 I can discover no peculiarity in her gait that requires 

 modification. She will make a trotter almost of her own 



