198 TRAINING IN INDIA 



Remarks on Training continued.— For a horse that 

 can stand them, I think single gallops are, as a rule, best 

 in India, taking into consideration the peculiarities of the 

 climate, and the difficulty there exists in getting a sufficient 

 number of riding-lads. 



One should never forget that many horses run best 

 untrained. These are, generally, light-carcassed, impetuous 

 ones, which a sight of a race-course would upset for a 

 fortnight. Such animals should be well looked after in 

 their stable, get lots of walking exercise and quiet hacking, 

 and have a gallop only once in a way — say every ten days — 

 and that away from a course. 



Piogues or bolters should never be trained on a race- 

 course, but should get their work hacking, pig-sticking, 

 or with hounds. One can often get a long stretch of 

 soft ground by the roadside or in the jungle, on which 

 to extend a horse without letting him suspect that 

 "business" is meant. Horses are extremely sharp in 

 this respect, and know a great deal more about racing 

 than we usually give them credit for. 



At the risk of being laughed at, I positively assert that 

 many horses know when they lose or win a race, and show 

 this knowledge often most markedly by the way they look 

 and carry themselves after running. I have frequently 

 remarked that the once well-known Arab galloway, 

 Caliph, very seldom on the day of a race required a setting 

 muzzle ; for he would, of his own accord, neither touch his 

 hay nor his bedding, and only just wet his lips in the 

 morning, though he would take his allowance of corn all 

 right. I believe the Arab Sunbeam had the same pecu- 

 liarity. It may be asked how they knew they had to run 



