3(!2 THE HORSE 



was on the race-course. The aim T always had in view was 

 to dehver each horse at the post in the highest possible 

 health, full of vigour and muscle; free in his action, and 

 thoroughly clear in his wind. This sums up the whole art 

 of training, but if one item is wanting the animal will not 

 win when competing against those who have similar form. 

 For instance, a horse may have done too much work, and 

 therefore be lacking in vigour, and disinclined to catch hold 

 of his bit and put heart into his work ; or he may be short 

 of work and have accumulated fat inside, and consequently 

 soon gets blown and does not catch his second wind ; or he 

 may be fairly right in his wind, in so far that he does 

 not take long to recover it after a sharp gallop, yet has not 

 done enough long work to fully develop the muscles, which 

 consequently tire, and his strokes lose their power ; or 

 perhaps he gets jarred, and stiff in his joints and sinews, 

 whereby his stride is shortened a few inches, which means a 

 loss of many yards in the course of even a short-distance 

 race. One thing, however, I must add : that it is far easier 

 to train a horse in England, with a springy turf to gallop 

 on, with better and less heating food, and a cooler and more 

 bracing climate, than it is in a hot country, where any ail- 

 ment runs its course in hours instead of days. 



Supposing a horse to have done too much work, nature 

 having been overtasked, there is a want of life about the 

 the animal, a listlessness and slackness, which tells its tale 

 at the end of the race, when there is no energy remaining 

 for a struggle against an opponent. We all know what it 

 feels like to be " above oneself," and no one can do his best 

 work unless he feels in the humour for it. It is the same 

 with a horse when turning out for a race ; and though he 

 may warm up in the course of the contest, and his well- 

 hardened muscles and good wind may bring him home if he 

 has the best of the race, he certainly will not do the big 

 thing a well-trained horse, full of nervous energy, can 

 accomplish. Some horses go off their feed when given too 

 much work, and it can never be to their advantage when 

 such is the case. If an ordinarily hearty feeder does not 

 clean out his manger the cause must be ascertained, and 



