436 HOESE POBTBAITUKE. 



usual exercise. The quarter of an hour before the starfc 

 you can jog him slowly, going two miles in the time, and 

 not till you have drawn your place and received instruc- 

 tions from the judges, will it be well for you to speed him. 

 There will undoubtedly be some trouble in getting off, 

 which will be warming up enough, and you must use every 

 endeavor not to prolong the start. Do not drive any 

 faster than is neccessary, though if you obtain the inside, 

 do not give it up unless you are forced to. Still, it will 

 be preferable to lose it, rather than get your horse un- 

 steady on the first quarter. You are fortunate in getting 

 the second place, though the horse that has the pole is one 

 of the fast ones. 'Lie with him until you come to the 

 straight work on the back stretch, when you can take the 

 pole, if you are able. Should you effect this, ease your 

 horse so that he will have to take the outsi&e of you on 

 the lower turn, and thus equalize the advantage he had 

 on the first. 



Hurrah ! One heat won, and won handily, though here 

 are two spokes gone. How did that happen ? 



PUPIL. As you noticed, I pulled back on the turn, and 

 as we entered the stretch, I was half a length behind. 

 When I let loose of Never Mind which was at the place 

 where we were out of sight of the stand he tried to pull 

 across me and force me to the outside. I would "not be 

 crowded, and I rather think he had the worst of it, as I 

 saw a big gap in his wheel. 



PRECEPTOJR. You did right. If you had avoided the 

 collision, it would have emboldened him to take further 

 advantages. Now, boys, remove the harness, and one of 

 you wipe the sweat off. Throw on that long blanket and 

 woolen hood, sponge out the horse's mouth and nostrils, 

 and walk him a few minutes. There, that will do; turn 

 his head to the wind and scrape him as expeditiously as 

 you can. Put on the clothes, and walk him again. You 



