Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-02

The education of the thoroughbred
horse, begins while he is still a yearling,
for. as he will in all probability be train
ed to run in races for 2-year-olds, the
sooner he is broken in to the saddle and
bride the better.
Moreover. If taken in hand when a colt,
he is more tractable, and the elements of
his education are fraught with less pain
to himself and less trouble to his breaker
than if the business were postponed
Having learned to carry a manor,
rather. a boy-on his back and to obey
he rein, his training as a race horse be-
gins. Somebody has summarized the pre-
paratlon for racing as "gallop, gallon.
gallop;' but in the case of the young
horse that summary is rather misleading.
In Olden times the practice of sweating
was general; the colt. in addition to his
regular work, was twice a week smother
ed in rugs and hOds, and, thus mut1led.
sent on q four or even six mile gallon.
But this heroic method of getting the
beef off has been given up for twenty
four years or more and is resorted to
nowadays only to reduce q gross horse
whose legs will not stand much gallop-
ing. The amount of exercise given each
horse depends upon many factors-one
that feeds we'll and does his corn
justice wants more wolk than a
delicate feeder. One Of the greater
secrets of the trainers art is to
iNoi" ~ liiIl w L cdtu HORSE
can do with the greatest advantage;
how much each requires to get off his
fat and develop his muscles. The ser
ious business of training begins in the
spring, when the ground is soft and
horses can be galloped without risk or
injury to their feet and legs.
AT O'Clock in the morning the train
er's string of IL dozen or more, each horse
sheeted and hooded and ridden by his lad,
leaves the stable and starts for an hours
walking exercise; this preliminary is es-
sential, for il taken direct to the train
ing ground and allowed to canter While
perfectly fresh dire grief would be the
consequence - boys "~unshipped' n
snorting young horses kicking and gal
looping wildly all over the countryside.
hours walk steadies their high spirits,
and, when taken on the downs, they are
fairly we'll behaved. The routine of work
is much the same from day to day-a lit
tie trot to quicken the youngsters circu-
lation: then a three-furlong or half-mile
canter followed by another canter.
n mornings work concludes with a
short gallop, the speed being increased
as the horses get more fit" Occasion
ally the work is varied With what the colt
doubtless thinks a real race, he is dis
patched to run half a mile or six fur
longs beside an old horse, and enters into
the spirit of the thing thoroughly. His
rider at the start teaches him how to
get away Well-start at speed without
loss OF time, a very necessary thing for
him to learn, for many of the races he
will be entered for will be short ones, in
which a good start is half the battle. In
these education races the youngster is
always allowed to win, the old horse be-
ing held in for the purpose, if need be.
Horses are curiOusly constituted, and
the colt is apt to lose heart if frequent
~ made to run against a rival who al
ways beats him, and if thus disheartened
at the beginning rarely ~ecove his nat
ural courage and spirit. There are no
whips or spurs on the training ground;
the youngster learns to do his best in
obedience to hand and heel alone, and
does not know what punishment means
till he has to struggle for the judges