184 TBAINING- IK INDIA. 



Avoid trying your horses against each other, or 

 against the watch. 



" When a horse gets to know his speed in his exer- 

 cise, it is seldom he can afterwards be got to struggle 

 well in a severe contested race." (Darvill.) 



On finishing a gallop, always turn round towards the 

 inside of the curve on which you are galloping. If the 

 direction be in a straight line, turn in preference to 

 the right about, as you would on a right-handed course. 

 This practice will tend to prevent horses learning to 

 bolt off the course ; for when they do so, they almost 

 invariably go off towards the outside, and not to the 

 inside of it. 



On a race-course, finish the gallop a couple of hundred 

 yards beyond the winning-post, and then gradually 

 pull up. 



If a rubbing-down shed be used, it should be placed 

 beyond the winning-post, and on the inside of the 

 course. 



One should avoid galloping horses in clothing ; as it 

 cramps their action, and the extra weight tends to 

 shorten their stride, and strain their legs. 



I cannot help condemning the practice many adopt, 

 of having their horses galloped constantly in heavy 

 clothing. An English jockey, whose lowest riding 

 weight is say 8.st., will, when not wasting, and when 

 wearing warm clothes on a cold morning, weigh close 

 upon, if not quite, 9 st. ; to this add 7 or 8 Ibs. for the 

 saddle, 2 to 3 Ibs. for the bridle and martingale, and 

 from 14 to 21 Ibs. for the clothing, and we will have 

 the animal carrying about 11 st., which is a truly pre- 

 posterous weight for a training gallop ; and then men 



