RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



that is, from my stable to Parkway and back, without 

 stopping, and insisted that they should not consume 

 less than two and one-half hours in doing this. This 

 gave them practically three hours' nice slow work in 

 the open air, and, in charge of a careful man, they 

 jogged or walked along together in comfort, and 

 were free from any causes which might tend to make 

 them nervous. I drove them a mile on Wednesday 

 over Mr. Shults's track in 2.25, and then a half in 

 1. 08. At the end of this half I observed that Bemay 

 was showing signs of nervousness, so I stopped. 

 When I started them in the first preparatory mile 

 Saturday, Bemay made a nervous break, but I sim- 

 ply sat still and talked to her and never took hold 

 of her mouth in the least, and she soon caught her- 

 self. After that she showed no more nervousness. 

 While she is not as fast as York Boy by three to 

 five seconds, she did her full share of the mile, which 

 was, in my judgment, two or three seconds faster 

 than she could possibly have gone single. York 

 Boy did not help her other than by encouragement. 

 These two horses go well together, because they are 

 fond of each other, rather than for any other rea- 

 son, for they are very differently gaited. I have come 

 to the conclusion that, to have a team go well to- 

 gether, one must have a great deal of patience with 

 them, have them given plenty of jogging together, 

 and drive them with a comparatively loose line, as 

 I did on Saturday. I have heard a good deal said 

 about lifting a horse in by manipulating his mouth, 

 etc. Personally, I do not believe there is anything 

 in this. I believe a horse with a comparatively loose 

 line will trot faster and better than if driven in any 

 other way, as this team certainly did. I had old 

 drivers advise me to steady them and take them in 



170 



