THE EDUCATION OF THE YOUNG 



back to a 2.40 gait and drive him home from the 

 three-quarter pole as fast as he can trot, which ought 

 to be in 34 or 35 seconds, and the mile close to 2.30. 

 Keep on with him, giving him slow heats the first part 

 of the week, and better than 2.40, and the latter part 

 of the week step him a fast quarter away and one 

 home, but be careful not to rush him too fast. If 

 you do, you are apt to get him to taking hold too 

 strong and going bad-gaited. After this kind of 

 work for a few weeks he should be able to trot the 

 first quarter in 35 seconds, and, with the middle half 

 easy, should trot the last quarter in 33^ or 34 sec- 

 onds. Now with a very few rated miles from 2.30 

 to 2.28, with an occasional fast eighth or quarter 

 at the end of the mile, I think your colt is ready to 

 trot a mile in 2.20, or better, the first time you ask 

 him to step a full mile. After that it is simply a 

 matter of judgment, going on with him and getting 

 him to the races. Anyone who has trained one until 

 he can trot a mile from 2.25 to 2.20 ought to be 

 capable of going on and making a good showing 

 with him, if he does not have too much bad luck. 

 Now, at any time through his work, if he should 

 act as though he were getting tired of it, or stale, 

 let up on him at once. Do not put a harness on him 

 for ten days, but let the man who takes care of him 

 lead him out with a halter early in the morning and 

 again at evening, from a half hour to an hour ; let him 

 pick grass, nose around, eat dirt, roll, and do about 

 as he pleases. At the end of his ten days' let-up 

 jog him for two or three days, then give him a 

 couple of slow repeats. By that time you will find 

 out that he can show as much speed as he could be- 

 fore his let-up, and you will be surprised to see how 

 fast he will come. While let up, get all the chafes 



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