GENEEAL RULES FOR WORK DURING TRAINING. 187 



course, he should be wound up to this concert pitch, 

 only just before his race. I am, here, taking for granted 

 that the animal is of the sort which bears being drawn 

 fine. 



When a horse, after slight exertion, breaks out into 

 a watery and copious sweat, and dries slowly, we may 

 be pretty certain that he does so through weakness, 

 and that he is in a most unfit state in which to con- 

 tinue training. In fact, what such an animal would 

 require would, as a rule, be a few linseed and bran 

 rnashes, some green food, and several days' rest. 



Many excitable horses, when in perfect condition, 

 will break out into a profuse sweat if brought 

 on to a race-course. This should not be confounded 

 with sweating from weakness, or grossness. 



The great thing to avoid is getting a horse fit too 

 soon. Condition is only relative ; for a horse may be 

 in perfect training, although showing little muscle. 

 What we want, however, is quantity as well as quality 

 of muscle, with clean " pipes," and the " faculty of 

 going " thoroughly developed. This desired state can 

 only be obtained by work, which cannot be continued, 

 if the horse be prematurely brought too fine ; for the 

 consequent strain on his nervous system will be more 

 than it can bear, and he will, consequently, soon become 

 stale. 



I think experience will bear me out in saying that 

 Country-breds, during training, can very rarely stand 

 being galloped oftener than every second day. They 

 should, also, be run " bigger " than any other class. 



Horses differ so much in the way they stand work, 

 that it is impossible to lay down fixed rules on this 



