The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1884-05-14
THE MODERN TRorTER.


The system of training at present in
vogue is widely different frore that in prac.
tice ten years ago. Then low diet and hard
work were thought to be what horses need
ed most to prepare them for the track. They
were limited to q certain recognized quanti-
ty of hay and grain each day, and water
was considered dangerous If given in any
thing like the quantity now allowed the
animals. Trainers seldom considered TINT
one horse might need more food and drink
than another, and that if he did not get it,
be could not show good work. BY many
trainers horses were all treated alike, dieted
alike No doubt the development of speed
in the present generation of trotting horses
is in great measure due to the improve
ment in training and conditioning. The
best trainers do not limit their horses in the
number of quarts of hay and grain they
shall eat, nor do they give them certain
quantity of water ut one time and then let
them wait for hours before allowing them
another swallow. On the contrary, the
muzzle has been abandoned in the stall,
and trainers let their horses eat ut will, and
place pail of water close enough to the
crib to permit the animal, after chewing his
food, to wash it down with swallow of
water, IL he cares for the liquid. The use
Of grass is also permitted under restrictions.
In this way, natural appetite is catered to,
The animal eats and drinks when he feels
like doing So and th@e is less danger of
eultivating ravenous appetite, with all its
disagreeable consequences. In early Spring
preparation, horses are not logged more
than half as much as they used to be, and
the systom of working has greatly changed.
decade since, horses were started at an
ordinary travelling gait, and we're kept al
work until they became impatient and ner-
sous, secured profusely, and then became
incapable of finishing out steadily ut the
faster pace. They We're in those times
given 10 or IL miles of work each day now
trainers are satisfied to give their horses five
miles day in preparation, or about thirty
or thirty-fiye miles week, allowing them
10 jog on five days and speeding them out
twice in the week. usually on Sunday morn
ings and on Wednesday and Thursday fore
moons. MIR. DUNES Golden, of Mystic PnrR.
who is the most successful trainer and driy-
II in New England, and is at least the peer
of any professional in the country, likes to
start his horses in the Spring with easy
weight work, that is. let them jog slowly
with two or more men to heavy wagon
He also believes i'll road work, and in giving
his horses a little Jogging over rising
ground, as such exercise brings into play
set of thews and sinews which work in con.
nection with the muscles on which the great
strain is placed in trotting on n level sur
face. Mr.. Golden is mn ardent believer in
modern Thought and practice in training
and driving the trotting horse In CONVEX
sation, day or two since he said he rarely
gave his horses more than five miles of
work u day, and he took longer time to
prepare them for truck work than most
trainers do, MS he believes in gradual ten
sion of the inner muscles which horse
brings into play in his natural trotting nc
ton. If the other muscles are first harden
ed, il is impossible to prepare the trotter
for good work until he is turned out and
the muscles permitted TO relax, after which
he must be carefully logged and ample time
taken to harden him up and thus prepare
him for speed. Many good horse 10
ruined" said Mr.. Golden "by being fore.
cd to do work which he Is not in condition
to do but which he is capable of doing with
little attention and proper preparation