HANDLING AND MANAGING TROTTERS. 279 



terfering with the circulation ; it should not be left on more 

 than ten hours, or the legs may become heated. 



I have but little, if any, use for the soaking tub for the feet ; 

 a walk in the dewy grass in the summer is, to my notion, 

 much better. Marvin says : 



" It is well to learn to drive by the watch, provided you 

 don't try to beat it ; it improves a man's judgment of pace and 

 hence teaches him to rate more evenly." 



It is well enough to let time be your guide but not a com- 

 petitor with your horse in training. In preparing for a race a 

 trainer should not overwork his horse so as to dull his spirits 

 and get him " track-sick." At every stage of preparation the 

 trainer's judgment should come to his aid and guide him as to 

 what to do, when to do, and how far to go. Just as horses 

 differ so must the methods differ. In preparation for important 

 races the jogging should not be left to the boys, but should be 

 done by the trainer himself, as in this branch of the horse's 

 education much is at stake, as mouth, gait, and temper are all 

 directly involved. In order to be most successful, one hand 

 should do all the driving ; the horse will readily perceive the 

 difference. Attention to details amounts to much, in this as 

 in other branches of business. Marvin says : " The man who 

 gets into the sulky after the horse is ready to work, drives 

 him his mile and repeats and leaves all the rest to rubbers 

 to do if they will, and how they will, may have an easy and 

 pleasant position in this life but he won't break many records." 



In the race be sure to have everything in readiness to the 

 clanging of the judge's bell ; don't let that rattle you in the 

 least, even if it is your first race ; keep cool and attend strictly 

 to your business ; always co-operate with the starter and en- 

 deavor to prevent delay in starting. 



After receiving the word " Go," do the best you can to get 

 to the front, and stay there, if your horse can do so within him- 

 self, but don't waste a fraction of speed, any more than is nec- 

 essary to safely win, without the necessity of driving head and 

 head finishes. 



