92 EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 



two, and at a gallop for half a mile. Twice a week give 

 him a mile at a very moderate gallop. 



If the horse is too fat, give him a purge during the first 

 days of training to decrease, the size of the intestines, and 

 at the end of the first week give him a sweat to eliminate 

 part of the fat from the tissues. (See Question VIII.) 



Thin horses or small eaters do not need either purges or 

 sweats. 



TJiird and fourth weeks. — If the legs keep in good shape 

 and the appetite continues good, increase the speed and 

 duration of the gallops, diminishing proportionately the 

 length of time at the trot. Twice a week give a good 

 gallop, but not at full speed. A second sweat should be 

 given at the end of this period if the horse is still too fat. 



Fifth and sixth weeks. — Same work, increasing the speed 

 and taking the horse once or twice over a distance nearly 

 equal to that of the race. 



Seventh and eighth weeks. — Give several gallops from 

 one-half to three-quarters of a mile, increasing the gait 

 during the eighth week at the end of the stretch. Give 

 also two or three gallops about 2 miles long, but never 

 force the pace. 



Two days before the race, gallop from a half mile to a 

 mile, increasing the pace as much as possible the last 

 quarter of a mile, but of course without overtaxing the 

 horse. The day before the race give him only a half-mile 

 gallop at a moderate gait. The morning of the race exer- 

 cise for an hour at a walk. 



Training for obstacles is only secondary, provided the 

 horse already knows "how to jump. It is sufficient to take 

 him over a few obstacles at an ordinary gait, from time 

 to time, after the second or third week. 



During training it is essential that the horse be calm 

 and that he lower his head and stretch the reins without 

 boring on the hand. 



