EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 5 



ing for me, who came in early to inquire when they better be- 

 gin working that trotting colt. 



I find a horse hitched under the shed, who has been 

 brought to me for advice about shoeing, as it is well known 

 that I superintend the shoeing of my own horses in every par- 

 ticular; if I can find a smith that will do as I direct, if not, I 

 hire one myself. 



Well, when I have obliged every on-e, I am permitted to 

 work my own horses for a short time, and after the necessary 

 lessons and business of the day are over I may receive a tele- 

 gram from some prominent Western or Eastern horseman 

 who is on his way through or changing cars at Syracuse, and 

 desires me to meet him at an evening train. I of course 

 wish to please him, because I may be in his town next week 

 buying a horse, or may be attending a meeting of which he 

 is Secretary or President. Sometimes it is only a social re- 

 union he desires; more often he has some horse he wants to 

 consult me about who has peculiarities that he thinks I may 

 overcome, and thereby increase the value of his stock. I 

 say Mr. F. or Mr. E., " You have competent trainers, and 

 those who have a National reputation in your town, why 

 don't you employ them ?" " Well, Mr. Peek, I will tell you, 

 Mr. S. or Mr. B. cannot be beat on the track, to get in the 

 sulky and drive a race, but they lack skill and judgment in 

 putting in condition and preliminary working of colts and 

 aged horses to get them going. You have the reputation of 

 taking the raw material and bringing it to the front, and I 

 am going to send you my colt anyway." I say "All right; I 

 have got plenty of feed and a blackmith shop, and I will try 

 and bear out my reputation." After a lunch at the Leland, 

 we part at the cry " All aboard '' from the conductor. 



This work is intended to answer all necessary questions 

 and to instruct amateurs in the business, so they may have at 

 least moderate success and profit. There is the same assured 

 success in this as in any business to those who are willing to 

 work and wait. A few will draw a capital prize ; no one can 



