SWEATING. 211 



put on an old rug next the skin, or, in large stables, a sheet kept ex- 

 pressly for the purpose, and hence called a "sweater;" then an 

 old hood and breast-cloth, next a second quarter-piece is put on, 

 and even a third in some cases, and lastly, a complete set of clothing 

 over all, the saddle, as usual, completing the arrangement. If any 

 special part is to be reduced, as, for instance, the brisket or bosom, 

 an extra cloth is folded like a shawl, and the ends being crossed 

 over the withers, it is kept in its place under the breast-cloth, by 

 the pressure of the saddle ; or a rug may be folded and placed 

 round the chest, without extending to the loins, in case the heart 

 is supposed to be oppressed with fat. All these points of detail 

 will call upon the groom for an exercise of ingenuity and tact, and 

 if he possesses these qualities, he will have no difficulty in placing 

 his sweaters where they will be required. When they are all 

 securely fixed the horse is ridden out, and after walking for a short 

 time to empty himself, he is started off to go his sweat, which is 

 generally four miles, doing three quarters of the distance at a slow, 

 pace, and then being set going a little faster, and at last brought 

 out to his top-speed, if in full training, or nearly so if in his second 

 preparation. By his top-speed, however, is not to be understood 

 the very outside pace which can be got out of the horse, but only 

 such a speed as is short of that by so much as will preserve his 

 stride in full vigor, and prevent that over-pacing which leads to 

 the rupture of muscular or tendinous structure. In his first prepa- 

 ration he should seldom be extended, and it is better to increase 

 the distance rather than to accelerate the speed beyond the steady 

 gallop ; but few horses refuse to sweat at a slow pace in this stage 

 of training. 



As SOON as he has finished the distance, the trainer examines 

 his state, and either directs him to be walked or trotted on to the 

 rubbing place, which should be a box set apart for the purpose, 

 either on the training-ground or at the usual stables ; or if the 

 ground is at a distance from any available stable, the shelter of a 

 haystack or high hedge should be sought for. The full benefit of 

 the sweat is not obtained unless the fluid is scraped off before it 

 has had time to be re-absorbed, which is the result, if it is allowed to 

 remain on the skin after this has ceased to give out any fluid. Its 

 vessels in that case, instead of perspiring, adopt the opposite ex- 

 treme, and appropriate the sweat by their own power of absorption ; 

 thus doing away with the chief benefit which was expected and 

 desired from the sweat itself. When the hand of the groom, ap- 

 plied to the shoulder of the horse under his breast-cloth, tells him 

 that the sweat is coming kindly, the horse may have a couple of 

 rugs heaped upon him, and be suffered to give out fluid for a very 

 few minutes only; but if it does not break out at once, three or four 

 must be put on him, and he must wait a quarter of an hour or 



