The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1875-09-03
THE AMERICAN TROTTER.
How He a. Cared Mountaineering Details
ON the Subject.
[Fror the PoughkeepsIe 81. - Eagle.

horses in our midst, and the Interest
felt among all classes concerning the
four days racing, which commences to-
day, questions arise for discussion about
which people who seldom visit race
tracks know but little. The fabulous
prices which iirst-class trotting horses
bring, lead many 10 inquire into the
manner of caring for them, how they
are treated, etc. Believing such infor-
nation given in detail would be very
readable, we have obtained ii from au-
I thentic sources. We will take for ex-
ample the splendid tr0tters Goldsmith
Maid, Occidcnt, Hopeful, American
/ Girl and Judge Fullerton. These lead
ing specimens of American trotters are
cared for and watched just as close, and
with as much tenderness and anxiety, Us
mother cares for her child.
Their first meal in the morning i
about three pints Of oats, and after they
have finished il, they are taken out
walking for about three-quarters Of an
hour in the morning dew. They are led
back 10 the stable and fed two quarts Of
oats. That repast finished, the grooms
wipe them off, wash out their feet and
commence 10 harness them lesurcly for
drive. If upon examination the
grooms find their pets a little too fat in
the jowls, or thick in the neck, they en-
yelope the neck and head in hood
made Of fine flannel to reduce the thick
ness, and TO make the trotters wind
clear. Then the horse is hitched to the
sulky and driven on the track where he
is logged along for mile or two to get
his Joints Timber, after which he is
driven mile at two-thirds Of his speed.
After that he j. driven of the track and
back TO the stable again, when the hood
i taken of and the grooms go mt him
with wooden scrapers and scrape the
lather or perspiration from the neck
and body, working fast and close.
Then comes the rubbing down pro-
cess. For rubbing, rags made of Ash
ton salt sacks are universally used, and
with these the grooms rub the animals
body, neck, head and legs till they are
as dry as a nut, when he is nicely blank
eted and given happy rest for twenty or
twenty-five minutes, after which he il
again taken from the stable, once more
hitched 10 the sulky and driven on the
track a before When he is brought
back TO the stable second time, the
scrapers are once more pressed into SER
vice, after which he i again rubbed
dry, and his mouth frequently sponged
out, when he is given promenade in
the open air, over the grass. AT the
close Of his walk they return him to the
stable, and soak his legs in hot water,
being first sure that they are cool before
the hot water is put upon them.
After the hot water process the groom
takes highwines reduced, and washes
the animals legs and back with the
4 liquid. The legs are then bandaged
nicely and carefully to keep them from
swelling, and also TO dry the highwines
I in and 10 keep the heels from cracking.
/ The horse j. then ready for rest, and
his bedding, composed of the best rye
straw, is put in good shape and he is
given little hay. His regular feed,
which follows at noon, consists general
" Of shorts and oats with salt in, and
sometimes little ginger is mixed with
| it. This after hard drive He is al
lowed 60 remain quiet all the afternoon
until O'Clock, when the bandages on
his legs are removed. his legs again
rubbed vigorously, when he is ready for
the evening promenade, which he seem
ingly enjoys greatly.
We saw twenty-five of them on the
fashionable horse promenade of the
Driving Park, Saturday afternoon, and
they stepped along as proud and as
daintily as a Broadway belle. After the
evening walk Of an hour and half, he
j. taken back TO the stable once more,
when again his legs are rubbed and his
feet washed out, when preparation j.
made for the evening meal of oats
or shorts, after eating which he
goes to bed early, and sleeps Gas
sound a. dollar Trotting horses
are fed in some eases five times a day,
sometimes four and sometimes three,
and in quantity according 10 the consti
tuition of the animal. The best horses
are always attended by one man and a
boy, the average attendants being one
man To horse. The attendants are
never away from the animal. They
sleep in the stall with him. in fact live
with him night and day, and the horse
knows the groom almost a well rs the
groom know. the horse.
As a general thing trotting horses are
easily irritated i'm their stalls, and are
cross and vicious towards any outsider
who may approach, but to their grooms
they are as Kind and gentle as kittens.
The trotting horse Hopeful is an cXccp-
ton to the general rule. lie is Kind To
every body, and any one can 90 in his
stall and pat him without fear. Gold
smith Maid j. very ugly in her stall, and
il would be dangerous for an outsiderto
enter therein. Dexter is also very VIZ
cious and ugly in his stall. Spotted Colt
will 90 for your hair if you come within
ten feet of him while he j. standing in
his stall He will fhroxy hack his ears