RACE-HORSES IN INDIA. 177 



the end of the season, when there is little to be won 

 with them, on account of the most important maiden 

 races having been already decided. In England, a 

 young one can be kept at work for six months before 

 he runs for the first two or three-year-old events, but 

 out here, the hot weather allows but little more than 

 three months, during which to prepare a maiden, 

 without suffering many of the best stakes, which are 

 reserved for his class, to pass by uncontended for. We 

 should not lose sight of the fact, that it often takes 

 more time to teach a horse to gallop, than to get him 

 into condition. 



As it requires at least two years' conditioning to 

 enable a horse to live amongst the first flight in "the 

 Shires; " it will, certainly, require no shorter period to 

 bring a young one probably fresh off the ship fit to 

 race over a distance in India. 



Small, compact horses mature earlier than those of a 

 larger and looser frame, and consequently may be run 

 at an earlier age. Sluggish horses can almost always 

 both stand work better and stay longer than impetuous 

 ones. Old horses require usually less work to get into 

 galloping condition than young ones do, though they 

 take more time to put up muscle. 



In India, horses are rarely trained specially as in 

 England for one particular race, as there are few 

 events worth an owner's undivided attention. The 

 usual practice is to give horses, within certain limits, 

 more of a general than of a particular preparation. 

 However, one should never sacrifice the speed of a 

 flyer by giving him long work, when it has been proved 

 that, fit and well, he is unable to stay a distance. 



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