The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-08-17
Lung Powers in Horses.

How shall colt be treated in order
to develop in him the highest degree of
speed? We will take an animal at two
years of age, let us say, and inquire
into the best method of cultivating the
faculty and power of rapid motion.
The first thing to attend to, be it OBJ
served by all, is the lungs. Lung power
is the best kind of a power a horse can
possibly have, because it alone can
make other kinds of power of avail.
Muscular power is very desirable; but
muscles can never bring a horse to the
wire in time, unless his lungs are good.
Nervous force is excellent; but no
amount of vital energy will hold a
horse up through the wear and tear of
four-mile race. A perfect bone
structure is admirable; but what are
bones, if the breathing apparatus is in
adequate? The first point, therefore,
that breeder or owner of lively colt
should consider, is this matter of lung
development. The great question with
him should be, chow can l expand and
enlarge his lungs?'
To begin with, then, let it be re-
marked that colts need great deal of
exercise. By nature they were made
for rapid movement. Like young
birds, they develop in motion. The
number of miles a colt of high breed
ing, and in good condition, will go
when at pasture, each day, is some
thing surprising.
Now, no sensible man will turn a
colt of fine promise loose in the pas-
ture after the second year; and we do
not after the first. A good colt is too
valuable to risk in that foolish man.
ner, especially if he be a horse colt.
He should be kept in large, roomy
stall, where he can be attended to and
trained day by day. But do not forget
his need of daily exercise. Do not
think that boX-stall will suffice. You
might as well teach an eaglet to fly in
a large cage as to give the needed dis
cipline to colts legs, heart and lungs
in box-stall. Many most promising
youngsters are fatally checked in the
development of their powers by lack
of needed exercise in their second and
third years. We hold that colt needs
a great deal of exercise; not to the
halter, which is good for nothing but
to sweat out lazy groom; but sharp,
quick exercise, in the taking of which
every muscle is brought into play, ev-
cry joint tested, and every vein, how
ever small, swelled taut with rapid
blood, as is the case when allowed the
liberty of hill and plain, and to follow
the promptings of nature.
How full of bounding life the young
sters are when in drove of twenty,
uplifted heads, and tails erect, their
long hair streaming straight out be-
hind, they charge in laundering col
umns across the shaking field. See
how they tear along with hoofs that
spurn the plain, with changeful gait,
and actions free and swift as a swal-
ow'si See that sorrel trot! Look at
his stride! How he opens out! Ha.
did you see the chestnut catch his
step? How that brown one runs!
Ho! here, boys; here! Now look and
see them come strung out in line,
heads toward us, ears pricked and eyes
on fire! Hi, there! hi, there! Now
see them sweep to the left and go tear
ing away like mad, muzzles straight
out and ears laid back, until they pass
the ridge, and the valley catches them
from Our sight. Circus-there never
was such circus as that! It's enough
to stir the blood in the veins Of a dea-
con, It is the exercise lot, and the ex-