THE AMERICAN TROTTING HORSE. 501 



less under the influence of training and experience, feel the mor- 

 tification of defeat more than older ones. Some colts are so 

 anxious to beat, that it is impossible to keep them trotting with a 

 competitor of equal or greater speed, but if put in double harness 

 they understand that they cannot get ahead of the other by run- 

 ning, and will do their very best trotting honestly. All animals, 

 except men, have more intelligence than they get credit for; and 

 a great many failures in the management of horses come from 

 men's over-estimate of themselves, and their failure to appreciate 

 and properly regard the intelligence of the other animal. 



The ground should be smooth, and level, or a little descending. 

 If rough it throws him out of his step ; and if ascending he may 

 get to hopping, or hipping, as it is sometimes called — that is, he 

 does not trot square, but goes in a half gallop with his hind legs, 

 as an easier way of taking the weight along, while he trots with 

 his fore legs. Taking too much weight, or being pushed beyond 

 his speed, may make him do it; and the remedies are, avoidance 

 of the causes, and driving at a moderate speed until the habit is 

 forgotten. The common notion that a horse can better trot up hill 

 than down, is too absurd to merit serious refutation. Whether the 

 hill be steep or otherwise, long or short, the horse can trot down 

 it, either under saddle or in harness, easier than he can trot up it. 



A high speed for a short distance does not injure even quite 

 young horses, but keeping them at it until the ligaments that bind 

 the bones together at the joints are overtaxed, and feel sore the 

 next day, is the way to stiffen the joints, to' cause knuckling of the 

 hind fetlock joints, and springing of the knees. No horse should 

 be so tired by a day's work that a night's rest will not make him 

 fresh again, and this is especially true of young horses. If a 

 horse is worked moderately at first, and a little more is exacted of 

 him in each succeeding day, but without violation of the rule just 

 stated, his powers will gradually increase to meet the increased 

 demand; but if that rule, is violated for days in succession, the 

 horse's powers daily diminish, and the experiment will end in 

 injury to his health and spirit. 



In trotting young horses the greatest difficulty is in keeping 

 them squarely at their work. They will try to go as fast as they 

 can, and they know that they can run faster than they can trot, 

 The colt that can naturally trot very fast will have less desire to 

 run. and being necessarily descended from trotting ancestors, he 

 will naturally be more disposed to do his best going in that way. 

 If possible, he should never be driven " off his feet," but should 

 be made to understand that he has but one way of going, and that 

 is trotting. 



Inexperienced drivers are never satisfied with their horse's trot- 

 ting until they have driven them out of their gait, and then they 



