54 THE TROTTING-UORSE OF AMERICA. 



he is doing well. As soon as lie seems to get tired of it, 

 and appears to be either restive or sluggish, let him up a 

 little. You must watch for these symptoms carefully ; for 

 this is a critical time. If you overdo him much noAV, it 

 will be a long while before he is himself again. 



The work must be according to his constitution, to the 

 rate of his growth, and to his heartiness of feeding. This 

 jogging wiU probably be about five or six miles a day, and 

 the spurts not above a quarter of a mile. He must be care- 

 fully watched to ascertain whether he improves or not. If 

 not, he is to be let up a bit ; for his improvement at this 

 age ought to go on all the time, and will if he is all right. 

 Rapid improvement, however, must not be expected : ever 

 so little will do, but it ought not to stop altogether. At 

 this time, you wiU often see him break his gait ; and this is 

 an indication that he has had too much work for his age, 

 and has got sore on it. But it may not arise altogether 

 from overwork ; therefore, put the rollers on, and work him 

 gently, changing them fr^ leg to leg as required. The 

 colt now finds something on his legs, besides the boots, which 

 wag not there before ; and it will alter his way of going. He 

 must be nicely handled now. You must use all your obser- 

 vations and best judgment, with a light but firm hold of 

 the reins. In all probability, he wiU trot square again with 

 the rollers on ; and, as soon as he does so, let him up for a 

 little while. When the broken gait shows, he must not on 

 any account be kept on without a change ; for, if he is, it 

 may become confirmed. On the other hand, I never like to 

 let them up until I have got them to trot square again ; for, 

 if they are so let up, they may not trot square again when 

 their work is resumed. In all his work, the colt is to be 

 taught to go along without being pulled hard. His mouth 

 may be easily spoiled for life by teaching him to tug at the 

 bit now ; and he is not at all likely to make a fast trotter, 

 if to trot he must always have his weight upon the driver's 

 arms. There have been some fast trotters and stayers that 



