APPEAKANCE WHEN IN CONDITION. 381 



PRECEPTOK. I will hear your story shortly. In the mean- 

 time I y/ant to pay a visit to the Falcon, and tender him 

 my regards. I will stay with you until after the horses 

 are all worked to-morrow, when I can give a better idea 

 of how they have done, than by looking at them in the 

 stalls. This noble fellow is certainly looking as well as he 

 could. There is an elastic, firm feeling, when you put 

 your hand on him, that shows his condition is more for- 

 ward than the "length of time he has been in training 

 would lead one to expect. His skin is as pliant as the 

 best chamois leather, and the bloom on his coat betokens 

 that his health is prime. It would take very close ex- 

 amination to detect that he is not in the best condition, as 

 to the hand the muscles appear well seasoned, and he has 

 not more flesh than I think he,ought to carry. The crest 

 is a little thick yet, and the muscles are hardly as distinct 

 as they will be after a few more sweats, given with fast 

 work. These will fine away the material, now partially 

 hiding them, when he will show a covering that will emul- 

 ate spring steel in its density, and quickness of recoil 

 when the contraction takes place. 



It is extremely difficult to determine, from the appear- 

 ance of a horse, what his condition is. It is true that 

 horses in condition have a similarity of appearance, though 

 condition may seem to be there, without the cor- 

 responding capacity to perform. The trainer, who knows 

 the amount of work the horse has received, is the best 

 judge, and even his calculations are oftentimes erroneous, 

 as the result of many a race has proven. One thing he 

 should be "better posted" on than any one else is, the 

 amount of flesh the horse ought to carry, and he must not 

 allow his judgment to be changed by the criticism of any 

 one, no matter how able he may be, if he is not thorough- 

 ly conversant with the character of the horse before him. 



When horses are in condition, they should, in a great 

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