206 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



horse, is to teach liim the proper manner of doing liis work, 

 and, hj judicious practice, to render him as fleet and reliable as 

 possible. 



Tiie amount of time and labor bestowed upon a Thoroughbred 

 horse in fitting him for a race is very great, and would entirely 

 unfit a coarser animal for any considerable exertion. The 

 average time occupied is six montlis, and is divided into three 

 courses or preparations, which are each preceded by physic and 

 a few days' rest. 



The principal feature of the first preparation is the walking 

 exercise, continued for two or three hours every day for six 

 weeks, the object being to improve the ajjpctite and season tlie 

 bones, sinews, ligaments, heart and lungs, and fit them to 

 undergo violent exercise. 



After two weeks of this training, the first sweat is usually 

 given, by enveloping the horse in blankets and hoods and 

 galloping two or three miles. He is scraped and dried as 

 speedily as possible, one boy working upon his head and two 

 upon either side, and then he is covered, as usual, and walked 

 about until perfectly cool. By the character of tlie perspiration 

 the condition of the horse may be accurately determined. At 

 first, it will be thick, lathery and profuse, but when the horse 

 is fit to run it will be thin, watery and scanty. Tliese sweats 

 are repeated every fortnight during the first preparation, and 

 once a week during the remainder of the training. 



When the horse appears lively after a sweat or gallop, and 

 feeds well, and has no unusual heat about his legs and feet, it 

 is an evidence that he is improving and will bear more work. 

 If, however, he is upset by these operations, he must have rest 

 and a bran mash, or a mild dose of physic to i)ut him in place 

 again. 



Ilorses in training are commonly fed two quarts of oats, old 

 and perfectly free from dust, early in tlie morning, with an 

 equal (juaiitity of water, which should be pure and soft. After 

 exercise and cleaning, at about eleven o'clock they are fed two 

 quarts more of oats and watered ; at three o'clock they receive 

 another feed of the same sort, and at night another, to which 

 is added six or eight pounds of the best, old hay. 



In the second j)reparation the horse receives two quarts more 

 of oats, more frequent sweats, and galloping instead of walking 



