CHAPTER V. 



When to Commence to Work and How at Two Years Old — A Light 

 Road Cart Necessary — Bits, Leather the Best— Care of Colt 

 After Work— Leg Wash— Leading Colt Behind Cart— Shoe- 

 ing AND Toe Weights- Track Work Management— Care of 

 Colt When Giving a Repeat— Neck Sweat— Body Sweat — 

 Too Much Work a Detriment — Cases Cited, Bonner, Great 

 Eastern, Black Frank and Norwood— Conditioning Great 

 Eastern and Bonner Required Opposite Treatment— First 

 Race with Your Colt — Treatment After the Race — Sale of 

 Lysander Boy to William H. Vanderbilt. 



In February or March, when your colt is two years old 

 or thereabouts, you better put on his shoes and commence to 

 give him moderate work, according to his ability. If he has 

 grown big and strong, is high in flesh and spirits, it will be 

 necessary to drive him to keep control of his flesh. Give 

 him from two to three miles' drive twice a week, which may 

 be increased to three times a week after a short time. Drive 

 him either double or single, if double, remember to change 

 sides alternately — first on near side and then on off side — as 

 heretofore recommended. Do not give him any fast work 

 yet, if you please ; jog him for at least three or four weeks be- 

 fore attempting to start him up, then let his brushes be short, 

 as I know that short, sharp work makes speed faster than 

 long slow or fast work and keeps a colt good-gaited. A horse 

 is always better by being short of work than he is if over- 

 worked. As the season advances, moderately increase the 

 work to every day, starting him up a little twice or three 

 times a week. Be sure and have the colt headed towards 

 home when you ask him to go, and he will move faster and 

 be more cheerful. 



As you increase the work increase the feed ; give soft 

 feed once a day — at night — and plenty of good timothy hay, 

 except on the morning of the day you expect to speed him? 



