The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-06-04

Tor the purpose OF making
@ speed at the trotting gait sur
prise the man who remains away from
the trotting course for few seasons,
and the veteran who saw Lady Suffolk,
Flora Temple, Dexter, aud other
champions in the early dnys of the
sport in America, realizes that this is
the age of invention. The champions
of former times had nothing beyond
the powers conferred by nature to
make them stick to their natural gait,
and they trotted because it was their
easiest method of progression.
But with the intermingling of the
purely trotting and pacing strains
with the thoroughbred blood of the
American race horse came problem
IN the shape of double gated horses
horses that would pace or trot ms they
felt inclined. There we're others that.
while they had plenty of power be-
hind, and used it, could not clear their
front feet, and consequently became
bad gated through striking their quar-
tiers or the sensitive upper structure
OF the foot between the hair and the
hoof Toe weights were the first of
the so-called improvements to come
into general use. These were pieces
OF iron, steel, or lead that were screwed
into the front of the foot az the toe or
attached to spur welded into the
shoe. The effect OF tie toe weights is
to true or balance tee horse by cans
ing him to go squGrely az Tie t-ot.
They give distinct bend to the knee
and nccentuate the roll OF that mem
Der, which is so much thought OF by
horsemen. They force n horse to
quicken his action, and thus get out
OF the way of the hind feet, and Mt the
same time, by giving the desired bal
ance which nature failed to confer.
they eliminate all desire to pace or
mix in the gait
1t was not long before the crude
weights were improved, until to-day
the appliance may well be said to be
Mt It's perfection. They are the most
used of all the artificial mediums to
produce speed, and many of the
champions of the turf require them.
The champion stallion Directum wore
pair that weighed two ounces each
when he made his record, and he is
being prepared for the campaign of
1898 IN California at the present time
wearing fourteen-ounce shoe and IA
toe weight as heavy or heavier than
he carried in 1S93-9l. Very many
horses cannot trot within ten seconds
OF their record without the WEIGHTS.
but there are others that become edu-
Gated, SO to speak, and learn to go
naturally without anything but the
ordinary shoe. This is true of many
young horses, and progressive train
crs endeavor to remove little by little
the amount of weight to be carried.
until the toe weig is dispensed with
entirely. Maud s., 2.OSi, was Il toe.
weight trotter. Suuol, POS, was
not. Neither is Alix, >. O3}, nor Fan
tasy. 2.OG, the respective queens of
the turf, the former holding the
worlds record for all trotters, while
the latter is empress of the four-yelr-
old division
Toe weights are not the only adj
juncts that have helpel to make the
trotters go fast. Boots shield all Dor
tions of horses anatomy that would
chance to come into contact with his
flying feet. There are boots for the
quarter, the pasteru, the shin and
ankle, the knee, and the elbow, ana
boots for the tee Of the hind foot.
which protect that member when il is
shot beneath the front foot. They rive
the horse confidence in himself that
he would not possess were he knock
ing the skin from his knees, quarters
and pasterns, or brushing his elbows.
and, realizing that he is not going to
hurt himself if he Increases his stroke,
responds nobly to any calls for addi-
tional speed which are made upon
him. The early education of colts
urgently demands the ues OF boots
and plenty Of them, and 70 meu can
hope to have goo3-gaited stock who
does not use every means t. iDstl
courage and desire % rcaIe suesl
INTO all OF his youngsters.
Hobbies are one OF the mos CT ~.
nry devices that are nov in use TO
make horses remain Mt the gait desired
by the driver. They arc made o r rub.
Der or leather, and for trottcrs RIM
diogonalIy from the front to the hind
legs, terminating in loops that encir.
Gle those members at the arms and r1s.
kins. They are kept in place by sighf
straps over the shoulders and back.
and the horse wearing them must trot
ur fall down. If nc attempts to pace
there will be trouble for both himself
md his driver, as we'll MS those i'm
the race that happonto be behind him.
For PAGERS the straps nre lateral. and
they are used ON some of the fastest
horses in the country. They have
been found useful i'm regulating the
gait of young trotters, the juveniles
learning after some education TO trot
without them. The speedy four-yenr
old Arena, 2:l5,, by Alcantara, wore
hobbies when colt, and many others
with fnst records have been educated
by their employment
The standing martingalc, the poke.
and half dozen combination bits and
overdraw check reins arc other inven.
tions that figure conspicuously on some
oi the up-to-dalo trotting horses. The
former is designed to keer the head nj
proper angle, and is conducive to
steadiness. Pixley, 2:0J!, by JAY
Gould, one of the best eau. paiQners Of
1898, wears one, and without il she is