THE AMERICAN TROTTING-HORSE. 185 



To the difference in disposition and temper "be- 

 tween the American and the English horse to which 

 I have alluded, much allowance must be made to the 

 varied systems of breaking practiced. The former, 

 as a rule, commence to handle their youngsters at a 

 very early age, almost making them pets, till they 

 become so familiarized with man, that when suffi- 

 ciently old they go to work with the steadiness of 

 old ones; while, on the other hand, the vice which 

 we frequently see at home results from severity of 

 treatment, or from the teasing of mischievous boys, 

 or bad-tempered grooms, who are too frequently 

 .employed about our stables. 



A statement of the time made by some of the most 

 celebrated American trotters I will here append, as 

 it will doubtless be of interest to many ; at the same 

 time due allowance must be made that such is done 

 from memory, I having unfortunately lost my rec- 

 ords. Of one thing the reader may be certain, that 

 if a mistake does occur it is only in the fractions 

 of seconds. Flora Temple, one mile, on Kalamazoo 

 course, Michigan, 2 min. 19} sees. Dexter, at Buffalo, 

 N. Y., one mile in 2 min. 18 sees. Ethan Allen in 

 double harness, trotting with a running mate, on 

 Fashion course, L. I., one mile in 2 min. 15 sees., 



