The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-02
They Are Put to School When They Are
Only a Few Days Old.
''FATHER BILL" DOCTOR OF CRIpPlEs
a Few of the Many Peculiar Tricks.
Habits and Ailments ofThorongh.
bred Horses --"staIl Walking"
s'saikinE," "FaInt Heart" and
"Purc Cussedness'
tBY HARRY p. MANSON,

oughbreds takes into consideration is
the breeding of the sire and dam. Their
offspring is supposed to be the result
of 8 careful combinatiou OF producing
blood; by that is meant families that
have produced race horses through all
the qualifications of their pedigree. The
result, however. is as often times fail
ure as success, and even fun brothers
and sisters are rank counterfeits. Han
over has had several brothers. not one
of them worth feeding, yet Hanover
undoubtedly, in himself really great
horse. is the sire of Handspring. King
ston has had brothers and sisters also
worthless and yet his sire. Spcndthrift
is the sire of Hastings. Here are the
two champion thrce-year- olds OF this
day and yet both are splendid exam
ples of the uncertainties of breeding
and handling the thoroughbred. Prince
Lief. which defeated Ben Elder in the
Oakley Derby. Is by sire almost un-
known as the progenitor of race horses
OF high class. And so il goes on ad
infinitum: of course there are numerous
examples the other way. Lehman and
Simon w. are full brothers. one racing
in the East and the other in the West
and both high class race horses. Hap
hazard is full brother to Leonawell
and promises to be even a better race
horse Eole. Eon and st. Saviour were
full brothers, whereas no ore would
even buy n fun brother to the great
Morello when put up at auction.
The education of the race horse should
begin from the date of foaling. The foal
should be taught to look upon man as
Its friend; the men and boys about tho
stock farm should go about the pasture
lots, handling the young things, break
Ing them of their natural shyness and
oftentimes savageness, for l have seen
ten days old feal strike and kick like
an old horse. This method of the early
education of the foal, has recently been
adopted ut Broolsdaie, one of the most
celebrated stock farms In America
near Red Bank, n. Y.J and with such
marked results that anybody can 40
about the pasture with the yearlings,
and they will play with your coat and
rub up against you like so many big
dogs; formerly the race horses. of ali
ages, bred at this farm were noted for
being so "crazy-heRded" that ii was
difficult to handle and train them. When
these advanced ideas are employed by
all breeders the chances are that the
colts and filles when called upon to
undertake the serious business OF their
lives will be found level headed" and
easily handled.
THE WARNINGS.
When the foal becomes a weanlinp
and leaves it's dam. great precautions
are taken by all careful breeders that
the pasture shall be rich and plenty
some shade IL possible, good limestone
and play. When the yearlings are
brought to the market, their tails are
banged" and their outward condition
made everything that is possible. Once
outside of the breeders and auctioneers'
hands. the buyer sends them to some
farm or to some racetrack and as soon
as possible commences their racing
education. The first schooling Is with
the natter and then with the bride and
bit. making the youngsters birdie WISE
as the saying goes. Then the saddle
is strapped on, all this is done in a box
stan. Great care must be taken with
the biting. that the mouth does not be-
come CALLED, for no mouth. no horse"
as he can neither eat nor be exercised
The next move is to lead the colt out
INTO the open mir, with a boy on his
back: this Is always done with an old
and Eood-tempered horse in the lead
or course when the colt gets out where
, there Is plenty of room it usually cuts up
many dides and the boy sees stars. moro
than once. After the colt is thoroughly
used to the bit. bride. saddle and boy,
IL is taken out upon the track always in
company of the old horse and there put
through its PAGES, being walked trotted.
cantered and galloped until the young
ster knows enough about his business to
go on alone: but lead horse is used by
every stable all the time: when the
Stirring" Is simply doing walking eSer-
else or shed work" there is always n
lied horse" with a boy on his back. as
monitor for the entire lot. A great
many trainers send an old horse ali the
way to the post with their two-year-olds
always in the lead, SO that the young
SterS do not turn fractions and wear
themselves out before the race Is run.
In working thoroughbreds in their
trials, particularly two year-olds n
trial horse Is worked with them, the bow
on the latter pulling up on signal or at
q given point, so as to encourage the
green colt TO go on and do his best: then
after while he understands what is ex-
peoted of him, and If the colt is willing
worker. he will extend himself without
another horse to force him out
When it comes to the actual develop-
ment and training of the thoroughbred
each animal has to be handled for it,
self. fer each has it's pecularties some
coming to hand" much more quickly
than others and great many prove lot
TO be worth their feed. OF course each
trainer has his own system of handling.
Some work their horses good deal and
others prefer gradual and easy pre-
pnration. Two-year- olds are at first
only "breeZed" an eighth of mile then
g quarter and finally q half the latter
distance perhaps only just a few DAYS
prior to their going to the post for their
first race. These trials depend q good
deal upon the constitution OF the horse:
IL the colt or filly is delicate or very
highly nervous in disposition great care
must be taken not to overdo them, and
blunt the fine edge of their speed The
trainer who understands his business
will handle each colt or fiily according
70 Its individual characteristics and fam
ily traits. and only upon this basis, can
successful results be obtained A great
advantage to the trainer is to know his
horses from the yearling stage and up;
fa seq them hr0kap and On IN or = a