124 HANDBOOK OF THE TUKF. 



Hollow of the Pastern. The hollow at the back and 



lower part of the pastern joint. 



Home. The goal; the ultimate point to which the 

 horse runs; the line which every rider or driver hopes to 

 reach first. 



Homestretch. That part of the track between the last 

 turn and the wire, usually wider and more level than any 

 other section of the trotting course ; the real battle ground of 

 the contending horses in a race. The rules governing horses 

 in a race on the homestretch, are, j)erhaps, more carefully 

 made than those covering any other part of the track, with a 

 view of protecting every horse and giving to each the best pos- 

 sible chance to win. They provide that when the foremost 

 horse or horses come out on the homestretch they shall each 

 keep the positions first chosen, under penalty of being ruled out. 

 The hindermost horse or horses, when there is sufficient room 

 to pass on the inside, or in fact, anywhere on the homestretch, 

 without interfering with other horses have the right to do so, 

 and any one interfering to prevent such passing is ruled 

 out by the judges. If in attempting to pass another horse, 

 however, a horse should at any time sAverve or cross, so as to 

 impede the stride of a horse behind him, such horse is not 

 entitled to win the heat. 



Hood. A protective covering for the horse's head. 

 Hoods are used for both sweating and cooling-out purposes, 

 and are made of various patterns. They embrace long hoods 

 which cover the face in front and extend to the withers ; 

 shorter ones which drop just below the eyes and cover half of 

 the crest ; throat hoods or jowl sweaters ; cooling hood, both 

 long and short ; goggle hoods, etc. They are usually made of 

 Canton flannel or California wool goods in plain and fancy 

 colors ; heavy or light weight, according to the purpose for 

 which they are used, and in a wide variety of styles and pat- 

 terns of texture. 



I do not believe in getting flesli off a horse -with a sweat-blanket or 

 hood— work it off in the natural way. — Training the Trotting Horse, 

 Charles Marvin. 



Hood. A canvas covering which buttons upon and 

 closely envelopes the skeleton body or foot-rest of road and 

 speed carts, as a protection to the legs of the driver from mud 

 or dirt. It is adjustable, and taken off when not wanted. 



Hoof. The horny box which encloses the horse's foot. 

 In general terms the front part of the hoof near the gi'ound 

 surface is called the toe, the two sides of which are designated 

 as outside and inside toe ; the lateral or side portions consti- 



