240 ILLUSTRATED STOCK DOCTOR. 



day, or rather to that number of pounds. As a rule twelve quarts or 

 pounds should suffice for the average horse. 



Hiram Woodruff, than whom there is no better authority, in his work 

 on *'The Trotting Horse of America," in relation to the preparation 

 which precedes the first trial, says : 



During the preparation which precedes the first trial, it will be neces- 

 sary to give the horse one or two sweats. Whether it ought to be one or 

 two must be indicated by the condition and nature of the animal, the races 

 in which he is engaged, and resolved by the judgment of the trainer. The 

 amount of clothes in which he shall be sweated must be determined by 

 the same considerations. Some may require a blanket and hood, and a 

 wrapper round the neck to start the perspiration out of them : while 

 there are others that will sweat freely with but little clothes, and scrape 

 well when more have been thrown on at the end of the jog. One thing 

 may certainly be said, that a sweat obtained without the use of heavy 

 clothing is more satisfactory and better than one with it, provided the 

 latter method does not include a good deal more work to get the sweat. 

 Only a moderate quantity of clothing and little work while the horse is going 

 are the best for a sweat, if a good scrape can thus be obtained. When the 

 horse comes from the drive, and is taken out of the wagon, he will soon 

 be ready to scrape. That done, he must be blanketed up again, and 

 walked about out of the draft. A favorable day for the sweat ought to 

 be taken advantage of, as a matter of course. Another light scrape may 

 probably be had after some little time spent in walking in the blankets ; 

 but, if the perspiration does not continue so as to give this second scrape, 

 it is not to be forced .:>y more work in the clothes. To be of use in itself, 

 and as a satisfactory indication that the condition of the horse is advanced 

 it must come of itself. During the time this scraping process is in 

 course of operation, the trainer having the conduct of it should not be in 

 a hurry. The same things that are said to cure a man's cold — patience 

 and a little water-gruel — will often do wonders in procuring a good 

 sweat. Commonly, however, it is easy enough to get the sweat and 

 scrape, but more difficult to cool the horse out properl3\ In order to do 

 this well, he is to be clothed again, and led very gently about for a 

 considerable period, so that he may become cool gradually, and the per- 

 spiration may dry away by degrees. This walking is to be out of all 

 draft as much as possible ; and it will not do to hurry it over, and go to 

 the stable, until the horse has cooled off well and gradually. When the 

 proper state has been reached , the horse is to be taken into the stable and 

 his body is to be well dreesed. This done, he is to be re-clothed, and 

 again led into the air. 



A few sups of gruel, made of Indian meal or fine shorts, from halt a 



