THE RACE-HORSE. 537 



course. This species of training, it will be seen, has relation 

 only to a given end, and will be inapplicable to any other. 

 The horses thus educated are frequently unsuited to useful 

 purposes : they are so unsafe that they can scarcely be trust- 

 ed to ride over a rough surface ; and great numbers of them 

 break clown on the level turf on which they are exercised. 

 Numbers of them are so little obedient to the rein, that even 

 in the race they must be ridden with running martingales, 

 though, by this means, their necks and heads are placed in 

 a position unfavourable to speed. 



The more immediate training for the Course consists of a 

 repetition and extension of the same system of treatment, 

 with the addition of physic and forced perspiration. The 

 horses being fed, are taken out early in the morning for se- 

 veral hours, and again for several hours in the afternoon. 

 They are mounted in the stable by the boys, and one taking 

 the lead, the others follow to the training-ground, which is 

 usually in the immediate vicinity of the stables. The pace 

 of the animals is gradually extended, until it becomes what 

 is termed a brushing gallop. They are occasionally tried at 

 speed with their fellows ; and the period and degree of ex- 

 ercise are suited to the temperament and age of the animals, 

 as determined by the judgment of the training-groom. The 

 effect of this continued and severe discipline is to brace the 

 muscular fibre, to maintain the strength and activity of the 

 body, and to keep the respiratory organs in active play. To 

 prevent the undue secretion of fat, purgative medicines are 

 administered more frequently than in the case of any other 

 class of horses ; and the animals are occasionally subjected 

 to a severe sweating, which is produced by clothing them 

 thickly from head to tail, and galloping them for a shorter or 

 longer space. When all the pores of the skin are opened by 

 this exercise, the horses are taken to an adjoining house, and 

 then scraped and rubbed till dry. These sweats are repeated 

 once a-week, or thrice in the fortnight, according to the con- 

 dition and constitution of the horse. The effect of the train- 



