232 HUMANE HORSE-TRAINING 



that are of important value, and when properly followed 

 will eliminate the trouble in many cases. 



To properly balance a horse for racing, soundness is 

 the first and one of the most important considerations. 

 A horse may be apparently clean and sound, examined 

 by a veterinarian, recommended and sold as serviceably 

 sound, may be all right for any service and the transaction 

 business-like and legitimate, but race-horse soundness is, 

 and must be, a different consideration. 



A race-horse, when actually engaged in a race, 

 requires and must exercise his full nerve energy and 

 physical body power, and every part of his anatomy 

 must be in condition fully to perform its function in 

 harmony with every other part. Therefore, if any 

 organ of the body is diseased or not fully developed and 

 hardened to stand the strain equal with every other 

 part, then that organ will weaken, irritate or pain, and 

 cause the animal to lack in its complete and satisfactory 

 performance. 



Several horses are on record that were not sound, but 

 raced satisfactorily. On inquiry, we find that these 

 horses were exceptionally game, and kept in condition by 

 great expense of labour and capital, and in charge 

 of exceptionally good horsemen. I believe that, had they 

 been sound, they would have been better race-horses. 



