TRIALS. 125 



long race of three miles, the morning's canter should 

 be nearly four, in order to get " the length" well in- 

 to him. If for heats of two miles, the canter should 

 be full four, or there is no objection to your giving 

 it of only the length of the heat, walking a quarter 

 of an hour, and then repeating the same. If for a 

 short race, or short heats, the gallop and distance 

 may be proportionably quicker and shorter, but the 

 exercise is never to be so severe as to produce the 

 least distress. 



You may put it down as a rule that every Arab, 

 during the first two months of training, should be 

 above his work ; if there is an exception, it is where 

 there are fine, broad, flat limbs, added to a well- 

 formed barrel, and the horse a little sluggish or vici- 

 ous, then an extra gallop may be taken out of him 

 with impunity, and often with advantage. But the 

 weak points must always be the guiding mark : for 

 instance, when there is a fine round barrel and well 

 ribbed home, yet slight or rather tied-in legs, the 

 latter must be the guiding mark as to the quantity 

 of exercise ; but when the carcase is too small, or flat- 

 sided, with a long hollow flank, making, perhaps, a 

 rather washy horse yet the limbs strong, the former 

 must be the guiding mark. 



TRIALS. 



Towards the end of the second month it will be 

 advisable to take a few trials, that you may be able 

 to judge if he is likely to be qualified for the race 

 you wish. Try a mile and a half with eight stone 

 four pounds, and three days after, the same distance 



