34 EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 



quire so much stiff work to keep down flesh is apt to lose 

 their speed, and, as I said before, wear their legs out getting 

 their body in condition. 



I hope the reader will excuse me for my long digression 

 on the subject of these two horses, but it was for your good 

 to impress the fact that my theory of light work makes our 

 best and fastest horses. When I get a horse that requires 

 working to death in getting him into condition, I want to send 

 him home as soon as possible, as he will be no credit to me or 

 benefit to his owner. 



Now, we will return to the subject of developing our 

 colt. As the time draws near for the stake race, say two 

 weeks previous to his engagement, and your colt has had 

 plenty of work so as to reduce his flesh, and he is in what we 

 say good condition and has learned to go a mile or half mile, 

 as his race may be, it will be well to learn him a little about 

 scoring, and in this it is best to have a horse with him that is 

 easy controlled — one that you can take back without any 

 trouble or start up quickly. Go up the stretch to the usual 

 place of turning to come to the score. Let the colt move off 

 ahead the first time in scoring, next time let the other horse 

 take the lead. Don't rush him, but let him go away well 

 within himself, being careful not to frighten him so as to make 

 him break. Score him . up to the pole first then on the out- 

 side — this will give you an idea where he goes the best. Do 

 not score them more than five or six times^ perhaps less would 

 be better ; be sure to not over do the matter and get your 

 colt tired or discouraged. You will find that with a horse to 

 accompany him he will learn more in one day than you could 

 teach him in a week alone. If you think necessary, you can 

 practice this every other day. Some colts learn to score very 

 quickly, others do not, and consequently require more of it. 

 Be very careful about turning around ; do not let them turn 

 too quick, as a wheel might turn under or they might catch 

 a foot and frighten them ; also be careful about pulling them 

 up at the turn ; it is always well to speak " Whoa " to them 



