THEORY. 103 



would not." But ^vliy ? " Why, because it's contrary 

 to sense it should." Against such sound, sensible, 

 and conclusive reasoning it is I allow arrogant in me 

 to say a word : but as no man is asked, still less ex- 

 pected, to be influenced by what / may say — I 

 consider the thinof can do no harm if it sets a clever 

 man considering — it may do good, even should he 

 reject my theory altogether; for in this particular 

 case I am writing theoretically I admit. 



In exercising or working race-horses, it is generally 

 the practice to put as light weights on them as the 

 temper and disposition of the horse will allow. 

 With two-year-olds this is of course quite judicious, 

 and with many, indeed the generality of, three-year- 

 olds equally so : first, because at that age when in 

 strong work, that work alone is quite as much as 

 their frames are equal to, so it is right to get the 

 lij^htest weisfht we can on them that will answer the 

 purpose ; and secondly, in their races it is only light 

 Aveights they will have to go under : but when a 

 horse becomes four, five, six, and aged, it is quite a 

 different affair. He will then at many places have 

 to run under light or moderate hunting weight, 

 namely, from 9st. up to 12st. ; and here he begins 

 to want to get into the secret of carrying weight. A 

 four-year-old, going the first half of the Ab. M. with 

 8st. lib., may go as he likes ; but then let him go 

 over the Egiinton Course with list. 41b., he will 

 find a different style of going required : he must 

 leave his three-year-old style at home, or he will 

 never get home with this w^eight, or at all events he 

 will be very late there. Now therefore comes the 

 qu£ere — how far, when a horse is at an age where he 

 must expect to go under high weights, would it be 



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