202 TRAINING IN INDIA. 



not the custom, and, as it is very difficult' to get lads, 

 one is frequently forced to send horses alone, or at most 

 in pairs. I am aware of the difficulty of finding a boy 

 who has even a little idea of pace. In default of having 

 such a one, I strongly recommend the amateur trainer 

 to time every gallop, as well as each quarter of a mile 

 of it, so that he may be able to correct the lad as occa- 

 sion may require. To do this, one will require a good 

 stop watch ; the best kind for this work being one 

 which has a double second hand so arranged that one 

 of its branches can be made to stop at any moment, 

 and, by a second pressure rejoin its fellow, which in the 

 meantime continues to go on, but which can be stopped 

 together with the other at any moment. Thus, each 

 quarter of a mile can be accurately timed, as well as 

 the entire gallop. With such a watch, the time of the 

 second horse as well as that of the first horse in a 

 race can be ascertained with precision. 



Young horses should generally have a horse to lead 

 them in their gallops, and should occasionally be 

 allowed to draw level and pass the other on nearing 

 the winning-post. In doing this, the pace of the 

 leader should be checked, so as to allow the change of 

 position to be made without an effort on the part of the 

 youngster, who, in this way, will gradually learn his 

 business, and, towards the end of his training, will be 

 accustomed either to wait or to lead. 



When horses are trained for short distance races, 

 as for half or three-quarters of a mile, they may be run 

 much bigger than were they intended for longer ones ; 

 and the trainer should avoid ever sending them long 

 gallops, except at a canter now and then, which will be 



