TRAINING. 117 



gulph two years, and half trained each year, he has 

 of course a greater advantage still. Racing colts in 

 England, it is true, come to the post at three and 

 four years old, in fine order, most of the great stakes 

 being for young horses ; but a couple of years' extra 

 hard food, with as much exercise as can be given, 

 without rounding the shank-bone or bringing a wind- 

 gall, adds no little to strength and vigour/"" 



TIME REQUIRED TO TRAIN. 



A horse in good hands is deemed capable of prov- 

 ing his utmost speed in five, or, if taken from grass 

 and no exercise, in seven months : many for the Bom- 

 bay turf, fresh from the Bomb Proof, are brought to 

 the post in three months ; but so short a period is 

 not sufficient, unless they have been in strong and re- 

 gular exercise for some time previous. Others, again, 

 which have been laid up to fatten and get a decent 

 external appearance, are in this state (only half way 

 to condition) put into training exercise, in the hope 

 of bringing out their full powers in as brief a space, 

 by dint of sweating and galloping :t these, like the 

 former, are almost sure to get thrown over in some 

 way or other, for should their legs prove of that solid 

 texture to stand this hasty training, it is more than 

 their bodies will they " fly to pieces/' The sudden 

 high feeding on grain is also apt to make them foul, 

 or they grow stale, and, if there has been any taint 

 in the pedigree, perhaps sulky into the bargain ; J be- 



* In India a little more soiling is thought necessary than in England ; and, 

 if so, then a less quantity of physic is needed. 



t See the note under " SWEATING." 



A good caste Arab will sometimes sulk too ; the General, of 1839 and 40, 

 for instance ; but then the cause, whatever it may be, seldom arises from strong 



