EQUITATION AND HORSE TRAINING. 93 



It should also be clearly understood that the pro- 

 gramme of work is subordinate to the horse's appetite 

 and to the condition of his legs; the gallop must be re- 

 placed by the trot or walk, entirely or partly, every time 

 the tendons become heated or the horse refuses his oats. 



Second. Condition of the legs. — The horse's legs should 

 be examined every day and handled with the greatest 

 care. As soon as one tendon becomes more heated than 

 the other decrease or stop the work and relieve the over- 

 worked part with douches, with bandages soaked in the 

 ''white lotion" " or in water and arnica, until the heat 

 has disappeared. Then change the work and replace the 

 rapid gaits by the walk, increasing the duration of exer- 

 cise. If the tendons heat again it is better to stop train- 

 ing entirely and thus avoid a strain that would lay the 

 horse up for a long time. 



Third. Feed during training. — As a general rule a horse 

 never eats too much during training. But if he eats 

 heartily and if his legs will stand it increasing the work 

 is sufficient to prevent him from taking on too much 

 flesh, and training in such a case will go on under the 

 best possible condition. This, however, is rarely the 

 case; increasing the work generally decreases the appe- 

 tite, and it is difficult to make a horse eat more than 

 14 quarts of oats a day. As soon as a horse stops eating 

 with relish, the gallop should be decreased or stopped, 

 and resumed only when the horse cleans up his oats. 



During training hay is an entirely secondary nourish- 

 ment; 4 or 5 pounds a day are generally given. Bedding 

 should always be abundant and extra good, so that, if his 

 appetite suggests, the horse can eat some of it. 



The ration should be gradually increased with the work, 

 and given in three or four feeds. Oats that are not eaten 

 at the end of an hour and a half or two hours should be 

 taken away so as not to make the horse lose his appetite. 



a Acetate of lead, 1 ounce; sulphate of zinc, 1 ounce; water, 1 quart. 



