CHAPTER V 



MANAGEMENT DUKING THE HOT WEATHER 



In India the hot weather stops racing in the same manner 

 as the winter does in England. During the months of 

 April, May, and June, in fact until the rains commence, 

 the trainer, if he be in the plains, should not do more with 

 his horses than to keep them in healthy exercise, for the 

 climate of itself will cause a considerable strain on their 

 systems. 



I am much averse from the plan of throwing sound, 

 healthy horses altogether out of training during the 

 summer when they are required for the following season's 

 racing, for hard condition once lost takes a long time to 

 regain, and the abrupt changes in the Indian seasons do 

 not allow of a long period for strict training. Thus, if a 

 horse be permitted to get gross or poor, and his muscles 

 flaccid from want of exercise, and he be not put to work 

 before the middle of July, it will be impossible to get him 

 at all " fit " before November or December. I would, on 

 the contrary, advise that a sound horse should get all 

 through the hot weather a fair amount of healthy work 

 which, when it consists of cantering and trotting, should 

 be given in the early mornings. 



