NATURE OF EXERCISE. 155 



however good their wind might be for facing a steep 

 hillside, are soon " blown," if they have to run fast on 

 level ground ; the reason being that both find the action 

 a novel one to their muscles. 



We may safely conclude that a horse should very 

 rarely be fully " extended " over a distance equal to that 

 of the race for which he is being trained, and only then 

 towards the latter end of his preparation. " Getting 

 the distance into them " is too often synonymous with 

 " taking the speed and life out of them." 



Kepeated fast work, for comparatively short distances, 

 with intervals of rest between, will be found to be 

 accompanied by less risk of accident, and less danger of 

 making a horse slow, than long fast gallops. 



Fast work is not alone requisite for preserving 

 and improving the speed of the limbs ; but is equally 

 essential for bringing the respiratory muscles into such 

 a condition that they can maintain their action under 

 high pressure. We may rest assured that if a horse be 

 thoroughly fit and well, has had lots of work, and has 

 had his speed developed and his wind made clear by 

 plenty of short spins, with a few fast gallops for nearly 

 the length of the race for which he is going to run, he 

 will, in nineteen cases out of twenty, stay the distance, 

 unless, indeed, it be beyond that of which he is 

 naturally capable. 



From the foregoing remarks we may see that in order 

 to bring a horse " tit to the post," we must give him a 

 large amount of exercise, which should not be at a 

 long, slow gallop. Hence, the exercise which we are 

 unable to give at a fast pace, should be at one which 

 will be as little prejudicial to his speed as possible, such 



