LIFE WITH THE TROTTEKS. 339- 



over -check and short martingales you have him in a position 

 to torture him without any relief. The best plan in this 

 case, I think, is to put what we call a standing halter 

 on him. Have a halter made to fit his head, and fasteu 

 your standing martingale into that instead of into the bit. 

 Have your martingales, if you drive him with any, long 

 enough so they will not cause any friction on the rein or 

 bit when the horse has his head in a natural position. Never 

 check your horse with any patent springs in the check. He 

 will be apt to get in the habit of teetering his head up and 

 down on the check in a disagreeable way. Always remem- 

 ber in training and driving a trotting horse that the horse 

 stands to you in the same position that a merchant's bank 

 account does to him. Every time your horse makes an effort 

 for you you make a draft on your bank account, so it stands 

 you in hand to be very careful how you draw on the horse's 

 strength, and use every effort at all times to protect him 

 in every way. 



Trotting stallions have generally been considered rather 

 uncertain track performers. With few exceptions I think 

 this has been the case, especially where they have been 

 used for breeding purposes before their racing career began. 

 The only genuine race-stallions that I call to mind now are 

 Hannis, Wedgewood, Director, Jerome Eddy, Monroe Chief 

 and Phallas, these six having in their time gone through 

 the grand circuit and showed the ability to win a majority 

 of their races in some one campaign. They were all notably 

 game horses, but as two of the lot are by one sire it may be 

 well to allude to them somewhat in detail. These two are 

 Director and Phallas, one with a record of 2:17, while the 

 other has 2:13| to his credit, that mark having been obtained 

 in the fourth heat of a race against other horses, while the 

 record of Director was made in one of the best contested 

 battles it was ever my good fortune to witness. These two 

 stallions I consider first-class race-horses, and I think I know 

 whereof I speak, as they both made their best records in 

 races where I was a contender. Both of them are by Dicta- 



