TRAINING AS IT WAS AND IS 203 



the way the horses are ridden, and various other 



reasons. 



The old writer, however, is absolutely correct 



as to the variety of treatment necessary for horses 



in accordance with their constitutions ; 

 Training 



siieve and, I may add, their conformation. 

 For instance, as I have already briefly 

 stated, I had some difficulty with Slieve Gallion 

 in consequence of his having a tendency to ewe- 

 neck. This made him very difficult to break, as 

 it was less natural for him to bend to the 

 bridle tackle, as he went round on the long 

 lunging rein. It was six weeks before I thought 

 it advisable to put a jockey on him, though with 

 ordinary yearlings this may be done in three or 

 four weeks. 



When a jockey was put on him he was led 

 straight after the other horses until I considered 

 he could go loose with the jockey. For this 

 preliminary training I did not use any ordinary 

 jockey, but the best available. 



After this, however, Slieve Gallion was given 

 the usual routine work for a yearling. He was 

 out from one and a half to two hours every day. 

 During that time he was given two steady canters 

 of four furlongs each, the rest of the time being 

 devoted to walking exercise. His food differed 

 in no respect from that of the other horses of his 



