Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-05-09
GYMNASTICS FOR THE HORSE.

\ Veteran Trainers Plan for Beating
the Best Trotting Record Yet Made
II have invented ways and means TO
introduce the horse To n series of gym.
nastlcs which will shorten the time
many seconds on trotting records and
there is no reason why well.brod
horse subjected To my gymnastic cxer-
ciscs cannot make mile In two min
utcs," said Professor Bartholomew, the
horse educator, recently to n writer
for the Kansas City Journal won.
dcrful advancement has been made In
breeding ana training horses during
the past forty years. but with scientific
gymna sites added to n horses training
II Is sure to cause yet greater sur
prscs In record breaking. The human
body has been wonderfully developed
by gymnastc exercises, M everyone
knows, and had this idea of gymnns.
ties been introduced In the training
of horses years ago" Professor Bar
thoomcw continued, "greater advance.
mcnt would have been made along the
lines Of speed ana endurance.
"A horse can trot quarter OF
mile nov IN thirty seconds, and II
stands to reason that If u horse can
make u record of quarter of mile
In thirty seconds, and II has been done,
he can be put In condition to go a
mile nj the same rate Of speed. Crack
drivers have failed To put their horses
In the proper condition so far, and II
Is doubtful If the present system of
training trottng horses will ever bring
about n two-mnutc record or less.
Some viii ask: How can 4 horse work
In gymnastics? But If the principle
had been grasped by horsemen years
ago II would have undoubtedly been
put IN use ] have the principle. with.
out mistake, ana winter Is the time
to 60 the work In winter horses, ms
a rule, are losing speed instead Of
gaining.
Will result in activity and long reach
and will cause running horses 10 make
better records as well as produce more
speed I'm trOttcrs. ! refuse 10 tell how
these results can be brought about,
simply for the reason that some man
would undertake 10 practice my theory
without judgment and knowledge Of
application, ana hc would fail to pro-
ducc the desired result. The public
would condemn the principle, which
have demonstrated to my own salts
faction. ! have never undertaken to
prove my theory can be demonstrated
In the course Of series Of gymnastlc
trainings, say In four or five months.
with horse gymnastics the leetest
horse can improve as much as the
slower ones that undergo the same
drill. Every muscle and fiber Of the
horse Is brought into play until, In
prizc.riug parIancc, he Is In the pink
Of condition. a prize fighter, while In
training for the ring has his skin,
scalp ana bones hardened until he In
turned into the ring n perfect man,
physically. Every muscle has been
exercised with view 10 endurance.
He has punched the bag, taken long
runs to test his wind and reduce flesh.
In short, the condition OF the prize
fighter Is brought about by gymnastics.
The same thing can be done with n
horse. but the exercise on race track
won't do IT, The animal must have
gym nastics and be brought to the
pin; Of condition before he can break
n record. He must be taught 10 walk
on his hind legs. to strengthen the
muscles ~ the back. He must be-
taught to lie down, roll over. reach
out and gather quickly. In short. he
must be put through a scientific course
Of gymnastics until every muscle shall
be brought into play, toughened and