THE TRAINING GROUND DESCRIBED. 59 
CHAPTER VIII. 
THE TRAINING GROUND. 
A training ground and its essentials described—lIts surface—Extent and shape— 
Downhill exercise condemned—Distinct courses necessary for summer and 
winter—The trial ground—Methods of restoring the surface—Newmarket 
and other sites—Appreciation of situation—A quiet spot recommended and 
reasons—Effect of publicity om owners—An instance to the point at 
Woodyates, 
HAVING learned something of the horse in sickness, and of 
what is and what is not condition, we may, before proceeding 
to the consideration of the preparation of the horse in health, 
give a description of the training ground as it ought to be. 
There is nothing more essentially necessary to a training 
establishment than a good training ground. The extent, 
the nature of the surface, and subsoil, are matters of the 
greatest importance and deserve a strict inspection, when 
selecting a spot. The soil should be neither clay nor sand ; 
for though the latter may in wet weather afford pretty good 
going, in dry it becomes very hard and unfit for galloping. 
Unmixed clay is still worse; for in wet weather it is too deep, 
and in dry, bakes like a brick, and is very seldom in a state 
fit to gallop on and then only for a short time. 
The surface soil should be one of a light friable loam 
resting on a chalky subsoil, sufficiently retentive of moisture 
to keep it moderately soft in dry weather, and porous enough 
