168 GENERAL TREATMENT OF HORSES. 



have already observed, a racing-colt may now be 

 said to be in training, if not from the day on which 

 he is foaled, from that on which he is weaned ; for 

 his condition, at least the foundation of it, is from 

 that period in progress. Again, the early period 

 of his going into work, compared with what it for- 

 merly was, but now become so general, has not 

 been without its effect. It has called forth addi- 

 tional exercise of the trainer's professional skill ; 

 for it may easily be imagined, that, bringing very 

 young horses to the post, in the perfect state of 

 condition, and full development of muscular power, 

 in which we now-a-days see them at every race- 

 meeting in our island, is a very difficult task, and 

 that it is a still more difficult one to preserve them 

 in that state, even for a few days. Both constitu- 

 tion and temper being to be consulted, the very re- 

 finement of the art is called for; in fact, the trainer 

 must act upon principle, and very cautiously too, 

 in his efforts to forestall nature. Inasmuch, how- 

 ever, as muscular action produces muscular strength, 

 the racer of the present day, reared as he is reared, 

 and consequently in a more condensed form, does 

 not, with few exceptions, require the very severe 

 work which it was formerly necessary to give him, 

 to increase his muscular powers, as well as to rid 

 him of the bulk of flesh and humours he acquired 

 in his colthood, under the old system of rearing 

 him. A sight of our two-year-olds at the starting- 

 post, is the best demonstration of what is here 

 stated. They exhibit a development of muscle in 

 their forced and early maturity almost equal to that 



