290 HORSE PORTRAITURE. 



symtoms of distress, though I am satisfied I worked him 

 too much, and sacrificed his speed without its being ne- 

 cessary. 



PBECEPTOE. Very probably you did. Because a horse 

 has that quality we denominate bottom or endurance, with 

 game that does not show distress, if peradventure, he feels 

 it, we are very apt to overwork him. The great difference 

 between training race horses now and in former days, 

 exemplifies the truth of this statement. The trainer, of 

 Haney's Maria a mare that beat almost everything she 

 ran with would gallop her, at times, ten or twelve miles. 

 A person who would do so now would be thought crazier 

 than your friend the doctor, and it was only by having a 

 nonpareil that this fellow was enabled to win at all. 

 Horses now run the four miles in time that would have 

 been looked at in her day as an impossibilty, and show as 

 little fatigue as when the time was half a minute slower. 

 Better horses, better tracks, and better training have 

 accomplished this, and the last named has done its full 

 share. 



We will now to the stable, where our first duty will be 

 to prepare a mash for Never Mind- I have no great faith 

 in medicated mashes, and usually confine myself to bran, 

 oats, salt, and a decoction of sassafras. The last has, I 

 think, a beneficial effect in making the system less liable 

 to febrile excitement, which is the most to be dreaded and 

 guarded against after sweating. When this is done, I 

 will see you drive the colts. We will make May wear the 

 large roll I spoke of, and see if her action changes any 

 when going round the turn. The effect will be more no- 

 ticeable when first applied than after she has become 

 somewhat accustomed to it. 



I have said nothing yet about the difference between 

 growing and matured horses, both as to the necessity 

 and the effects of sweating. There is a vast difference; so 



