SETTING 205 



and Thursdays for a quarter of a mile, twice on the same 

 morning, with a walk for a mile between the spins. 



Second Fortnight. — Single gallops on the same morn- 

 ings, commencing at half a mile, and going up to three 

 quarters of a mile, improving the pace up to three-quarter 

 speed. 



Last Fortnight. — Four gallops, a little better than 

 three-quarter speed, for something under a mile. 



On off days the pony should have a fair amount of 

 exercise, hacking, etc., which, I think, should not exceed 

 9 or 10 miles a day. 



If an owner has a real " glutton " for work, he may 

 take liberties with him, but country-bred ponies usually 

 are not of that sort. 



Setting. — The degree of " setting," which term is used 

 to express the routine employed in stinting a horse of 

 his food and water before a race, will depend on the 

 distance to be run, the time of day at which the horse is 

 to come to the post, and on the condition and constitutional 

 peculiarities of the animal itself. The longer the race is 

 the sharper should he be set. If it is to come off in the 

 morning and the horse be gross, he should get, on the 

 previous day, only about three pounds of hay or dried 

 grass, given in quantities of one pound each after his 

 morning, midday, and evening feeds, the muzzle being 

 put on to prevent him eating his bedding. The evening 

 feed may be slightly decreased, and the early morning 

 feed of one pound should be given three hours before the 

 race comes off. In this case no change in the system of 

 watering on the day preceding the race is needed. 



Water is very rapidly absorbed into the blood, and on 



