38 THE LIFE OF A RACEHORSE. 



my legs were tlien removed, and upon his knees Harry dropped 

 to brush and hand-rub until they were dry, bright, and as soft 

 as satin. A feed of corn was thrown into my crib, and my box 

 "set fair." The concluding part of the ceremony was giving 

 me my allowance of good v/holesome hay, and I was then shut 

 up for hours, and left to the sole companionship of Toby, and 

 the peaceful invigorating comfort of being undisturbed. 



Such were the main incidents of my introduction to a 

 training stable. 



CHAPTEE VII. 



THE FIRST SWEAT. 



As my education advanced, my work was gradually increased; 

 and, instead of moderate exercise, in the shape of from one to 

 two hours' walk, and a canter of half a mile or so, every other 

 day, I was set going at half speed, and kept at it both longer 

 and oftener. My first preparation, as it was called, being 

 completed without the aid of physic, I now had a mild dose 

 administered, by way of a preliminary to my second. The 

 effects of this over, I soon commenced doing "good work," 

 and from that entered upon "the strong." My first sweat 

 I remember as well as if it was only yesterday I took it. The 

 allowance of hay had been shortened the night before, and as 

 my neck and shoulders were deemed too heavy, an extra quan- 

 tity of clothing was placed upon these particular parts of my 

 body, and a light but warm rug thrown across my loins. Harry 

 Dale pitched lightly into the j^igskin, rode me, as usual, in the 

 string, and at the end of half-an-hour's walk, the signal was 

 given for York's Cardinal to lead the canter, upon the comple- 

 tion of which we were again stopped. 



Six of us now quitted the string, and, led by John Sellusall, 

 mounted on his hack, we went a considerable distance before 

 coming to the nearly level ground selected for my first " spin.'* 

 Having given some particular instructions to Spanky, who rode 

 the Cardinal, our trainer trotted forward, and, breaking into 

 a hand-gallop, soon became a dwindled dot in the distance. 



