550 HISTORY OF THE 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Training grounds— Trainers, their duties, &c.— Mr. Holcroft's diary 

 of his early hfe as a stable-boy — Anecdotes, &c. 



We have before observed that the training sta- 

 bles should be in the immediate vicinity of large 

 open downs, as well for the benefit of the air as 

 for the sake of a suitable training ground. The 

 more extensive these downs, the better, as afford- 

 ing greater variety of ground, and preventing the 

 necessity of constantly using the same portion ; 

 a practice which much injures the surface for gal- 

 loping. When, however, this cannot be avoided, 

 rolling, at a proper time, may be resorted to with 

 advantage. 



Mr. Darvill is of opinion, that it is not so much 

 the hardness of the ground, as the uneven surface 

 of it, that occasions horses to break down ; and 

 that small mole-hills and cart-ruts, are the 

 principal causes of this injury. This is rea- 

 sonable enough ; but, at the same time, the bad 

 effects of galloping horses over the hard, flinty 



