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ON TRAINING THE RACE-HORSE.

BY COTHERSTONE.

TRAVELLING TO MEETINGS.

The means of transit are so completely changed, and the system of locomotion is so greatly improved within a very few years, that our fathers, much more our grandfathers, would be lost in amazement could they just burst" the cerements of their tomb," and take a peep at our present mode of progression.

The accommodation afforded by the railways presents an unexceptionable facility for removing race-horses from one place to another, in whatever directions they may be required to traverse, and with ordinary care there is not much risk; the greater danger being in taking horses into and out of the boxes, on which occasion all the legs should be protected with bandages, and the fore ones with knee caps; the former, in order to avert the evils which might arise from the animal kicking, the latter to defend the knees in case his impetuosity should cause him to slip as he is being led over the platform. It is wonderful how quietly many very shy horses will approach these fearful-looking machines; but for the sake of ensuring their tractability, it is advisable to put a pair of winkers on them, which will permit them to see where they are placing their feet; and, consequently, allow them to discern the ridge which the platform presents, at the same time will prevent their beholding objects on either side which might alarm them. The principal fault which is to be complained of in the horse-boxes belonging to the railway companies is their not being padded at the back, so as to prevent horses from injuring their hind legs and hocks by lashing out against the timber with which that part of the machine is constructed. It is in order

to obviate this neglect on the part of the builders of their carriages that it becomes the more necessary to preserve the hind legs from being bruised, by the application of bandages; which, with horses prone to the habit of striking out, should be double. It is difficult, indeed almost impossible, to protect the hocks, as the mere fact of securing them with bandages would induce many horses to kick until they had disengaged them. Many horses will very quietly submit to be led into the railway boxes, and when set in motion will commence striking at the planks which are behind them; as a matter of course, the boys always accompany their horses, and they should be instructed to use every method to reconcile and keep them quiet. It is wonderful the influence which a boy may acquire over the horse that he looks after: a sort of companionship is established between them, that is, if the boy behaves well to his horse-so that the animal

will be much more readily pacified by him than by any other individual.

It is a custom with the attendants on the railways to recommend a horse's head to be tied quite short. It is evidently very wrong: if he be disposed to kick at the back of the box, he will not inflict half so much injury upon himself if he be close to it, as if he be at some distance; besides, many a high-couraged horse will hang back and become violent when they find themselves closely secured. Plenty of straw should be thrown on the flooring of the box.

By way of insuring the accommodation, it is advisable to give notice at the railway station, a day or two previously to that on which a horse box will be required; in which case the conveyance will be secured; otherwise, if they all happen to be at another station, or other persons have secured their wants beforehand, much disappointment may arise.

The next method of removing race-horses is with the assistance of a van; which, with post horses, can be sent in any direction, so that, by means of the two auxiliaries, a horse may be conveyed an immense distance in a very short lapse of time. It is a great desideratum if the van be built sufficiently low to admit of its going on the railway, a consideration which ought to be invariably attended to. Since these conveyances have been in vogue, the ingenuity of coach builders has been on the alert, and several have competed with each other which should construct them on the most convenient principles. Herring, of the Westminster Road, London, built most of the first that were introduced; since which, he and other builders have made vast improvements. Upon the whole, no man puts them together with the grand objects combined equal to him: capacity, lowness, strength, and lightness of draught are concentrated. Hunnybun and Venden, of Newmarket, have turned some out in a very creditable manner; but some that have been put together for the term built would be inapplicable-by country makers, especially in the West of England, are execrable; and it is only wonderful that gentlemen can be found to purchase such rubbish at any price, but the strange temptation of a few pounds' reduction in price has an extraordinary effect upon the calculations of many false economists.

If time and weather will permit, it is advisable to take the horse out of his van five or six miles before he arrives at his place of destination, so that he may walk that distance; it will stretch his legs, circulate his blood, and prepare him for being dressed in a more natural way: not but what he may be fed, if required, in the van; but, as a matter of course, he will require feeding when he arrives at the end of his day's journey. The boy who attends him should be particularly desired to consult the warmth of the horse; if the ventilators be not sufficiently open to admit of fresh air, or the horse be at all alarmed or nervous, he will probably break out; and in case opening the ventilators more freely does obviate the breaking out, he should be ordered to reduce the quantity of clothing which the horse has on him, at the same time watching carefully that he does not become chilled; similar attention is requisite on the railway.

The first vans that were built were sufficiently large to contain two horses; consequently, they required four posters to draw them; these were found to be inconvenient in many respects, and those most generally used now are made to accommodate one inmate only: of course these latter vans are materially lighter, more convenient to move about, and are readily conveyed by one pair of horses.

When horses are to travel by the road, they should set off in good time in the morning, providing the weather be mild; in hot seasons an early hour is indispensable, but early in the spring and in the autumn, half past eight or nine o'clock is the best time to start. From eighteen to twenty-five miles per day is the usual distance that horses are required to perform; but it must of course be regulated by a variety of circumstances, such as the distance from one place to another at which accommodation can be obtained, the time that can be afforded, and on some occasions the weather, for if that be very boisterous, it is encountering a great risk to expose horses to it, and on this account, one of the very great advantages is derived by the van system. It must be invariably remembered that there are only particular inns where race horses can be accommodated with any degree of comfort; at many good houses, which are frequented by the numerous classes of travellers who can obtain anything they require, loose boxes and quiet stables, such as are necessary for race-horses, are not always to be met with, and as a matter of course they must have private stables where they can be locked up by themselves.

It is usual for the trainer, or head lad, to accompany the horses on their route, who should make a practice of riding forward on approaching the place of rest, for the purpose of having everything prepared, unless it happens that the head lad be employed in taking a horse that is in training, which of course will prevent his augmenting his pace beyond that of the others; in which case, a line should be forwarded by post, to desire that stables may be prepared, and if they have not been occupied, some horses should be put in to air them; such places are not always kept in order, consequently much confusion ensues when three or four horses arrive without previous notice. It very frequently happens that the best accommodation is to be found three or four miles distant from a principal town, especially if such place happens to be in the vicinity of the race course, near to which good stabling is in general provided; this may be some guide to persons when they are travelling in a strange country.

When a man sallies forth with race-horses, every one he meets seems to accost him thus:

"I wish thee, Vin, above all wealth,

Both bodily and ghostly health;

Not too much wit or wealth come to thee,

For much of either might undo thee."

Every inn-keeper, every individual whom the owner of race-horses has any transaction with, impressed with the foregoing moral, appears to be so wonderfully interested for his happiness, so earnestly solicitous for his welfare, that they would rather take upon themselves the evils of too great an abundance of riches, than permit him even to run the most remote risk of suffering from such a diabolical evil. Why

it should be the case I never could conceive, but racing-men are charged enormously for everything.

The man of pleasure, who travels for his amusement, who seeks the enjoyments of the coffee-room at the first hotel in the town, is charged fairly for what he has; the commercial man, who travels for his own or his employer's profit, is charged moderately; but the owner of race-horses, who moves himself, his horses, and his servants from one place to another to show sport and encourage one of the noblest diversions of the age for the benefit and amusement of others, who evinces the most patriotic feeling by maintaining the first breed of horses in the world, not only for the honour, but for the welfare of his country, is charged enormously. I have experienced it myself, I have been charged extravagantly for bed, fire, and lights, and such like extras, while some man milliner making his £3,000 or £4,000 a year, under the denomination of a commercial man, enjoyed equal luxuries, for which he passed off scot free; and why? because I had brought a horse or two to promote the amusement of the town, to assist in drawing company together, and thereby causing a general distribution of the circulating medium, much of which was deposited at the very at which these excesses have been levied.

Warwick was, formerly, an infamous place for exorbitant charges, but now that Leamington has grown into a place of magnitude, and affords superior accommodation, the former town is deserted during the races, and the demands at either are moderate; such is the benefit of competition, which secures the public from fraud. Similar reform has been established at Doncaster, because rather than submit to the excessive demands and disagreeables of a crowded inn, all men who are alive to their comforts and their interest, form themselves into little parties, and ensconce themselves in lodgings, which are procurable for the week at a moderate rate.

In adjusting the clothing and apparatus necessary to be taken on a journey, some care and practice is required to prevent their becoming disarranged on the road. All the implements required for dressing must be taken, such as comb and brush, sponge, and rubbers; they are to be tied up and put into the muzzle, which, having the strap drawn through the buckle so as to secure them, has the other end reversed so as to form a loop by which it is slung to the near-side stirrup leather, and the muzzle thrown over the shoulder to the off side. The clothing is put on in the usual way, and the quantity determined by the weather; the head collar goes on over the hood, the rein of which must be rolled up and secured to one of the strings; a rack chain with a strap and buckle should be taken in the muzzle, as those conveniences are not always to be met with at strange stables. Although not always provided, a pair of saddle rags are exceedingly convenient to carry boys' clothes and such like paraphernalia: if made of ticking they are very light, and quite as good as leather for the purpose. Unless the stable doors be very wide, they and the muzzle should not be put on till the horse is led out, in order that they may not catch the doorpost. If the weather be too warm for the horse to wear a rug under the quarter piece, it is to be folded up and carried on the saddle, but by no means under it.

When horses are travelling on the road, some persons are very particular in having them led all the way. For my part, I cannot on all occasions recognise the propriety of such a custom: in the first place, in cold weather, a horse in high condition will not be kept warm enough; indeed, to keep up the circulation at a healthy standard, it will be necessary, when a nice piece of road presents itself, to trot him on now and then; and I am quite satisfied that the shortening the period during which horses are out, by thus increasing the pace, is highly desirable. I do not recommend horses to be ridden all day by heavy boys, but their riding them occasionally and leading them at other times, is the most likely means of both reaching the stable fresh and well; and if a boy be exhausted by walking long journeys during a succession of days, he cannot do justice to his horse when he has to dress him; moreover, horses that are in the habit of hitting their legs, will be caused to do so when led, by the position in which their heads will frequently be drawn.

The expenses of each horse and boy generally average from 10s. 6d. to 12s. per day; those of a trainer or head lad with a hack, from 12s. to 15s. It is therefore evident that the expense of one horse is greater in proportion than when two or more travel together, unless the single horse be intrusted to the care of a steady lad, whose experience and trustworthiness will guarantee his being sent without a trainer to overlook him; such, however, cannot always be arranged, and it should be remembered that false economy is the worst principle that can be devised in a racing establishment, at the same time exorbitant charges should be discountenanced on all hands.

ROYALTY-TIME.

BY CHARLES WILLOWDALE.

"Through the lucid chambers of the South
Look'd out the joyous Spring-look'd out, and smiled."
THOMSON'S SEASONS.

This paper has no pretensions to legal disquisition, and in fact I think we sportsmen should leave all knotty points to be discussed and determined by the lawyers; but, at the same time, there is nothing more fitting to a country gentleman than a correct knowledge of the general outline of his rights and liabilities, as affects both the game laws and aquatic rights. I propose, therefore, to pass over in a brief review the legal history of royalties; following it up by a description of the exercise of the privilege in modern times.

From the time of the Conquest the various territories of England

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