208 TEAINING IN INDIA. 



the condition and constitutional peculiarities of the 

 animal itself. The longer the race is, the sharper 

 should he be set. If it is to come off in the morn- 

 ing and the horse be gross, he should get, on the 

 previous day, only about three pounds of hay or 

 dried grass, given in quantities of one pound each, 

 after his morning, midday, and evening feeds ; the 

 muzzle being put on to prevent him eating his 

 bedding. The evening feed maybe slightly decreased, 

 and the early morning feed of one pound should be 

 given three hours before the race comes off. In this 

 case, no change in the system of watering on the 

 day preceding the race is needed. 



Water is very rapidly absorbed into the blood, and 

 on that account, when taken in moderation, a couple 

 of hours or so before a race, it does not act as a 

 mechanical obstruction to the organs exerted in violent 

 exercise, nor does it occupy the functions of the diges- 

 tive apparatus in its assimilation, for a considerable 

 time, as corn would do. For these reasons one need not 

 stint a horse so sharply in the matter of water, as in 

 that of food. 



If the races be held in the evening as they almost 

 always are the setting need not be so strict, and an 

 allowance of, say, 6 Ibs. of dried grass may be given the 

 day before. The trainer will now be guided by the style 

 of horse, whether to put on the muzzle the night before 

 the race, or to wait till the next morning. In most 

 cases I think it better to adopt the latter method ; for 

 if the muzzle be applied overnight, there is a great 

 probability of the horse getting fidgeted by it, and 

 thereby being prevented from having a good night's 



