548 HISTORY OF THE 



to ride, as they may require, more especially to the 

 head lad who has to lead the gallop and regulate the 

 pace. While the horses are taking the gallop, the 

 trainer is occupied in watching their action and rate 

 of going, making lads increase or diminish the latter, 

 as may be necessary, and taking care to be where 

 the horses are pulled up, so as to perceive the 

 effect of the sweat on each horse. 



The ground selected for this purpose should 

 be at least two miles, and, if possible, considerably 

 more, in circumference ; and a place having on it 

 in some parts one or more gradual ascents and 

 descents, is preferable to a perfect level. Accord- 

 ing to Mr. Darvill, the proper length for a yearling 

 to go a sweat is two miles ; for a two-year- 

 old, two miles and a half; a three-year-old, three 

 miles or three miles and a half; a foar-year-old, 

 four miles or four and a half ; while a five or six- 

 year-old may, at times, sweat five miles. But, as 

 we have before observed, these lengths are fre- 

 quently altered from circumstances, as the trainer 

 may deem requisite. 



After the horses are pulled up, they should be 

 allowed to stand for a minute or two, to recover 

 their wind a little, and, as it is called, blow their 

 noses. They should then be ridden gently to the 

 rubbing-house, or should there not be one on the 

 training-ground, to the stable, where the lads 

 having turned them about in their stalls, dismount, 

 and proceed to loosen their horses' girths, and 



