20 EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 



that morning it would be advisable not to fill his stomach 

 with hay, wait until after he has had his work. As soon as 

 grass makes its appearance give him a bite every day, letting 

 him eat ten or fifteen minutes towards night after his work, 

 as many times grass will make a horse puff and blow if he has 

 it before he is speeded. Still it is acknowledged that Dr. 

 Grass is the best veterinary we can many times employ. Now 

 your colt is ready to work on the track, if you have one con- 

 venient, if not, select a good smooth piece of road and prepare 

 it as well as you can, free from stone, and keep it soft if pos- 

 sible. When you commence to speed him, I prefer a descend 

 of ground so as to take the weight off the colt, as many times 

 a colt's gait is spoiled by drawing too much weight. One 

 way to avoid that is to select a very light speeding cart, 

 weight not over eighty pounds, as most of the road carts in 

 use are too heavy to speed a colt to, or aged horse. Bradley 

 & Co., of Syracuse, also manufacture one of the best made 

 and finest speeding cart in the market. 



The colt should be moxed hitched to cart two or three 

 times a week, at first from forty to fifty rods, after two weeks 

 extend the distance to one-fourth of a mile, if you find this 

 tires him, shorten up the distance again. After two weeks 

 more repeat him, that is, speed him over that distance twice 

 in one day. Great care should be taken to keep the colt's 

 mouth from getting sore. I am favorable to using a leather 

 bit, as more horses like it better than any other bit I ever 

 used. 1 never have known a horse to get a sore mouth from 

 a leather bit, but of course some horses will not drive well 

 with them. If not, use a snafie or bar bit, as suits \-our horse 

 best. See that your harness is well fitted and suits the colt ; 

 see that your check suits him ; many horses do not like an 

 overdraw, some will not go without them. If he should not 

 go well with an overdraw, the next time you go out [)ut a com- 

 mon side check on him, with or without check bit, try both 

 ways; be sure and drive him with a light hand ; if your colt 

 breaks don't be harsh with him, learn him to catch well. 



