THE FIRST EMBRYO. 103 



ing it more trivial tlian it afterwai'ds proved, on the 9th a pair of 

 hind shoes were put on, in order to hokl a scalping-boot, but the 

 swelling and lameness continuing, notwithstanding fomentations and 

 cooling appliances, t^je shoes were pulled off, a light blister applied, 

 and he was allowed to run in a small lot during the day. October 

 3d he was taken up and driven barefooted a quarter in 58 seconds, 

 and on the 10th in 54 seconds. Previous to this we had given up all 

 expectation of trotting him in the Embryo Stake of 1880, though the 

 move was so satisfactory that it was concluded to give him another 

 trial. On the 13th of October he was shod with tips in front, weigh- 

 ing six ounces each, and shoes behind, so as to attach scalping-boots. 

 On that day he was weighed, and for a colt of seventeen months old 

 he showed plenty of bulk, as the record was 810 pounds, and lih 

 hands hijirh. The 23d of October he was a trifle lame, and his work 

 was limited to a jogging, with an occasional spurt of speed. On the 

 28th the tips were reset and lighter hind shoes put on. The tips had 

 been worn some, and were filed down to i^ ounces each, including the 

 nails, and the shoes the same weight. He was driven the following 

 day in 3:18, and we were satisfied that he could trot the mile better 

 than 3:20. This view proved to be correct, as on November 5th he 

 won the stake in 3:17-i, the last half in 1:37|, and evidently could 

 have gone considerably faster. He was worked slow, and on Novem- 

 ber 10th the tips were reset, and three-quarter shoes, covering the 

 toe and outside wall of the hind feet, put on. The use of the three- 

 quarter shoes has been partially explained in former articles, but 

 later experiments have shaken the old belief, and the effects are so 

 different from what was formerly anticipated, that it is likely there 

 will be a complete change. It will require one or more chapters to 

 present the features, and as this is mainly to show the result of the 

 use of tips, the consideration will be postponed. On the 12th of 

 November he was driven in 46 seconds, and this was the fastest time 

 he made in his yearling form. He was driven a few times on the 

 ro id and ran in a small lot during the winter, when the days were 

 suitable. On the 4th of Apri\ 1881, his feet were trimmed, and he 

 was led to the track. On the ^5th he was hitched to a breaking- 

 cart, driven a few times, and again turned out. 



