RECOLLECTIONS OF MEN AND HORSES 



and cracks in heels cured up, if any; watch his mouth 

 closely. I think a colt's mouth wants a great deal more 

 attention than an old horse's, and I never could get 

 one to do well if his mouth bothered him the least 

 bit. Have him well booted with boots that fit, and 

 will not chafe every time that you start him up, 

 and about the best help that you can have is a good 

 prompter, one that you can place where you want him, 

 and every time that you start him up for an eighth 

 or a quarter of a mile, have him go with you, some- 

 times behind him, sometimes in front, and other times 

 at his side. It will encourage him and get him used 

 to company and noise. Running in front of him will 

 get him used to having dirt kicked in his face. I pre- 

 fer, if I have good capable men to take care of 

 them, to let them give the colts their slow work, 

 jogging and walking, as I like to have them know that 

 when I get up behind them it is their day to step, 

 and they soon learn it. I have had colts that would 

 jog along with the man that took care of them quite 

 easy, as though they did not care for a thing in the 

 world. Pull up and I would get in behind them, 

 turn the right way of the track, and they would 

 brighten up and want to step right away for your 

 life. They knew that there was a change, and that 

 it was their day to step, and they liked to do it. 

 In regard to three-year-olds, I have not much to 

 say, as I would work them very much the same as 

 two-year-olds, with more heats per week, from three 

 to four heats in each work-out, with fast quarters at 

 the start and finish of the heats, as I thought best, 

 which would be judged by the colt. .If a colt with 

 a lot of speed, he will not want many fast quarters, 

 but more rated miles with only a fast quarter or half 

 once in a while. If he is lazy in disposition, then he 



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