l6o EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 



made a star performer. It calls for the most careful judg- 

 ment, constant watchfulness, and keen discrimination in know- 

 ing how far to go. 



Presuming that the reader has decided to find out whether 

 he has the making of a trotter without waiting seven or eight 

 years on what may prove a forlorn and expensive hope, he 

 will naturally be endeavoring to settle upon a system of train- 

 ing. He is, we will presume, a sensible reader, who does not 

 need to be told that the same medicine will not suit every 

 patient, that the same diet and trdining is not best for all chil- 

 dren, or that no cast-iron set of rules can be formulated under 

 which every colt can be best handled. Ten volumes, cover- 

 ing every possible phase of training, will not relieve the trainer 

 from the necessity of using brains in his work, but on the 

 other hand no trainer of good judgment can fail to increase 

 his skill by study of the experiences of others. 



The colt's education should begin at weaning time, or at 

 about five months old. He is first made halter-wise and 

 learned to lead. The colts should be led to and from the 

 paddocks every day until thoroughly gentle and obedient to 

 the halter. After our youngster is thoroughly halter-wise, he 

 is ready for his first lesson as a trotter. Now we introduce 

 him to the Kindergarten. 



This is a minature track of about the regulation shape, 

 which should be about one-twelfth of a mile in length, 

 and ten feet wide, with long stretches and well thrown 

 up turns. The track should be of a soil good for 

 the feet, and should always be kept deep and quite 

 soft. The inner rail should not be perpendicular, but 

 should rather sharply incline outward at the top, so 

 that the colt can hug it closely all around and yet not 

 strike his knees or feet on th^ posts, of which there should 

 be rio more than necessary. On this track, after carefully 

 booting the youngster, we give him his first work. In my 

 book I treat this part of the education with that detail and 

 completeness which its great importance demands, but of 



