RACING, <ni TURF HORSES. 233 



TBAINING TO TROTTINQ. 



The idea of the average horse owner is that training means pampering 

 the horse. Nothing could be further from the mark. It truly means 

 the very best and most intelligent care, feeding and exercise for the work 

 to to be performed, and this exercise must be in proportion to the 

 distance. 



The artificial care given the horse in confinement renders blankets k 

 necessary for all fast working horses. Doubly so for turf horses, whose 

 pace is of the most exhausting kind. To get rid of superfluous flesh 

 sweating and exercise is necessary. The superfluous flesh and undue 

 moisture of the body having been properly reduced, then the pace of the 

 horse should correspond to that expected in the final trial. That is for 

 mile heats a faster pace will be required than for longer heats, but the 

 horse must be carefully worked up to the point, the improvement being 

 carefully and intelligently watched, that as the day of trial approaches 

 he may have a real trial of speed for the distance to be trotted. There 

 is, however, no rule that can be laid down as to the amount of work to 

 be done before this trial takes place. It will depend upon his condition 

 while at work and the manner in which he accomplishes his brushes, as 

 spurts of speed are called for short distances. These are among the 

 most important parts of training, since they tend not only to extend 

 the stride of the horse and improvement in speed, but the manner of 

 coming out of them will indicate the condition of the animal. 



High-strung, eager, generous horses must be handled in a very differ- 

 ent manner from sterner tempered ones. In any case, the horse must 

 come to place implicit confidence in his driver. The first must be re^ 

 strained ; the second urged. The first named seldom have the power to 

 accomplish all they would. The second must be made to know that it is 

 speed and distance that is required, and that they must go the pace if it 

 is in them. 



Feeding is essentially important. Some horses crave much hay. Such 

 must be restrained ; some gluttons will eat their bedding. If so, they 

 must be muzzled when not feeding, and always so at night. If a horse 

 is so light a feeder that he will not eat twelve quarts of oats a day, he 

 may have a little Indian corn, but this only in exceptional cases. Sound, 

 heavy oats, thoroughly cleaned and sifted, should constitute the feed of 

 the trotting horse, or any horse of fast work. The light feeder must be 

 carefully watched in his work. Some horses will eat fourteen to sixteen 

 quarts of oats a day. Such should have corresponding exercise ; for in 

 no event must fat be allowed to accumulate. We should prefer to limit 

 any horse, however large and powerful, to fourteen quarts of oats pet 



