EXERCISE FOR HORSES 97 



horses. Show horses must be fit to do themselves 

 and their handlers credit. In many of the rings 

 the going is heavy and horses that are likely to 

 be in the ribbons should be in shape to stand a 

 severe test. If they are not fit when they are 

 called upon to make a final effort, they will not 

 be equal to doing their best. Many a ribbon is 

 lost through a horse becoming fatigued and los- 

 ing his action and brilliancy in consequence. This 

 is particularly the case in heavy harness horse 

 classes. Walking exercise will do for a good 

 deal more than half of it. After a show horse is 

 well broken, three times a week is plenty to hitch 

 him, and the day he is hitched he should also be 

 walked once, and all other days twice. This 

 plan will get him fit, allow him to keep in flesh, 

 keep his mouth fresh, and his legs from getting 

 stale, aU of which are important points to con- 

 sider in a show horse. Exercise twice a day con- 

 tributes in a large measure to good manners. 

 This is not an important point in some well 

 broken horses of easy disposition, but in others 

 that are apt to "get above themselves" if not well 

 exercised, it is an important one. Nothing helps 

 to improve a half -broken horse more than to go 

 out twice a day. 



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