HINTS BY EXPERTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2622, 15 June 1904, Page 52

HINTS BY EXPERTS.

In order that a fast horse should bo under eircumstinj-as to do his best, ho should be as much at his ease in his harness and general rig as possible. If he is not, he is placed at almost as much disadvantage as if sore or stiff, or suffering from some bodily ailment. You may see horses brought out of the stable to trot with a -very tight check to keop their head up, and a tight martingale to keep it down. Such a horse is in irons ; and when to this is added a dead drag at the reins, and no movement of the bit from end to end, l cannot sec how he should do his beet. People talk about a steady, bracing pull ; but, in my opinion, that is not the right way to drive a trotter. There is a difference between letting go of your horse's head and keeping up one dull, deadening puil all th'S time. — Hiram Woodruff. Bits aro often kept in places to which the ficafc penetrates in very cold weather. The bits become frosted, and •without a thought of what ho is doing, the man claps a frosted steel bit into the horse's mouth. The consequence is a sore mouth, just about as certainly as if the bit had been nearly at a reel heat; and then the man bothers his brains to find out what caused it. If he had put the frozen bit into his own ! mouth it would have brought the inner skin j of the lip? away with it, and theni he would j have felt the mischief. In very cold weather take your bits to the fire, and be sure that there is no frost in the steel when rhe bit is placfd in your horse's mouth. — Hiram Woodruff. How far to work a colt I cannot tell you any more than I can how big a lump of chalk is. Colts differ in, sizo, stamina, disposition, and strength. iSom-e have gofc to indulge in a little foolishness before trey aro ready to do right— play with the birds along the fence or the shadows of Hie poles — while others are strict business all the time. It is safe enough to figure not 1o exceed four miles with any colt and not k^s than two and one-half. With the proper care, such as walking and turning out, colts do not need much jogging, 'i hey are ready to speed very soon aftor getting to the track. — Thomas J. Dunbar.