i 9 6 KINGSCLERE 



condition. The feeding up of the yearlings 

 purchased at a public sale is not the only thing 

 which the trainer has to complain of. As a rule 

 they have none of them been sufficiently handled 

 before they come under his care. A foal should be 

 regularly accustomed to be tied up, and have its 

 legs and feet felt over by the hands of its attendant. 

 Gradually habituated to such treatment, the young 

 things learn to submit tranquilly as a matter of 

 course, and, in fact, their education is quietly ad- 

 vanced by use, which is second nature. You cannot, 

 in reason, be " about " your yearlings too early or too 

 often. Let the horse begin as soon as possible to 

 know and repose confidence in his master. It must 

 be evident enough that by taking them early and 

 firmly yet gently in hand, a great deal of trouble and 

 some after-risk are spared the trainer. They should 

 be allowed to gallop about together until they begin 

 to be troublesome, and then the sexes should be 

 separated. If this division be not effected in time, 

 they learn " calfish " ways which are sometimes 

 difficult to eradicate, I have no objection to any 

 number of yearlings of one sex associating in the 

 same paddock. It is their playground, and it does 

 them good. The bully, as is the case at a public 

 school, is sure to find his level. This rule applies 

 — with yearlings at any rate — indifferently to the 

 tyrants of both sexes. 



' We are now done with the stud, and the yearling 

 passes into the hands of the trainer, and his serious 

 troubles begin. He has to be broken. I assume, 



