2o6 TRAINING IN INDIA 



that account, when taken in moderation a couple of hours 

 or so before a race, it does not act as a mechanical 

 obstruction to the organs exerted in violent exercise, nor 

 does it occupy the functions of the digestive apparatus in 

 its assimilation, for a considerable time, as corn would do. 

 For these reasons one need not stint a horse so sharply in 

 the matter of water as in that of food. 



If the races be held in the evening, as they almost 

 always are, the setting need not be so strict, and an 

 allowance of, say, six pounds of dried grass may be given 

 the day before. The trainer will now be guided by the 

 style of horse whether to put on the muzzle the night 

 before the race or to wait till the next morning. In most 

 cases I think it better to adopt the latter method, for if 

 the muzzle be applied overnight there is a great probability 

 of the horse getting fidgeted by it, and thereby being 

 prevented from having a good night's rest. Anyhow, on 

 the morning of the race, he is given his usual one-pound 

 feed, and is taken out for an hour and a half's walk, or he 

 may get a very slow canter for three quarters of a mile, 

 and be sent the next quarter at nearly full speed, just to 

 open his pipes and to give him the idea that his day's 

 work is finished. After that he may get about half his 

 allowance of water, and nearly his full feed of corn, with 

 a small handful of dried grass. The muzzle is now put 

 on, and at noon he may get a couple of pounds of corn. 

 If the race comes off about four o'clock, he should get 

 nothing more, but if at a later hour, a double handful of 

 corn may be given three hours, or three hours and a half, 

 before the saddling-bell rings. 



If a muzzle does not irritate a horse, it is better to use 



