CHAPTER XX. 



ON THE DUTIES OF THE HEAD LAD. 



By a head lad is understood a young man, or rather 

 one who, when promoted, is fast approaching to man's 

 estate. He is generally one who has been for some 

 years previously brought up under the tuition of the 

 groom, who is induced to select him for the situation 

 from his general good conduct, and from his having a 

 thorough knowledge of his business, both in the train- 

 ing as well as the riding of the horses, his private 

 character having always been distinguished by a regard 

 for secrecy, sobriety, and honesty — three very essential 

 qualifications for either a training groom, jockey, head 

 lad, or stable boy, to possess. Such a head lad, under 

 the groom, has full authority over all the boys and 

 horses both in and out of the stables. He instructs 

 and directs the boys in every part of their duty, parti- 

 cularly that of riding. He rides any difficult horse, as 

 occasion may require, in their gallops or sweats. Dur- 

 ing the absence of the groom, who may be attending 



