CARING FOR TROTTERS

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 50

CARING FOR TROTTERS

The public little know of the unceasing care and constant, untiring effort to keep the great 'trotters in condition to race. Charles De Ryder, one of America's greatest reinsmen, has given an idea of it to a Breeder and Horseman scribe. He said : "Perhaps in comparing the running and trotting horse one might say that the highest grade of the trotter or r>acer is all that a running horse is, plus restraint, 'xhe wild horse when in a hurry to get away gallops. He never trots. The trotter has had man at work on him. He has received an education, and the fear of inviting the displeasure of his driver by breaking into a gallop is constantly before his mind. He has been taught restraint. When in his excitement and effort he forgets that restraint he becomes just the wild, galloping , animal— the racehorse who knows no restraint and brooks none. The big racing trotter, with its tremendous stride and perfect physical make-up, receives the care that few humans ever get. They are like big babies and need constant attention. It's a, sponge in one hand and a thermometer lin the other most of the time. A racehorse's temperature is an index to his health, as is a man's. He is a bundle of nerves, too, and needs quiet and rest. In | the morning the trotter lie? around in his stall, getting- rest and stre^ gth. He has a box stall about 12ft x 12ft, with smooth walls. There is no manger. His hay hangs from the ceiling- in a rope basket. There is nothing- that he may injure himself upon. All morning long ho munches hay and is supremely lazy. Just before the races are called he is taken out and fflv«» threg trials. For ingtanae* X drcv&

Aristo around once in 2.45, actain in 2.25, and again in 2.20 before the race. After the race had been trotted and won he was brought in and given a warm bath of salt water — a pint of salt to a pail of water at about 115 degrees. He was washed down thoroughly and partially dried. Then he got a rub with alcohol and witch hazel, mixed in equal parts. After that he was wrapped in blankets and cooled out. if a horse is suffering much distress, if he is 'breathing very hard and is weak from the strain, 1 make the covering light, otherwise I have- the blankets thick and heavy. He is walked up and down by his man for about 20 minutes, during which time he has drunk water a little now and then, and he is then rubbed clown until thoroughly dry with rubbing cloths. These are made of English salt sacke; they are pure linen. He then gets another rub down with alconol and witch hazel, and his legs are bound up in x>tton moistened with a solution of sugar of lead and sulphate of zinc. This keeps his legs cool and keeps down any swehng. All this lias occupied about two hours, and if he is well cooled off and his temperature down, he is given a rub with Smith's caloric vita oil. a pi-eparation which keeps the body warm and arouses circulation. Then he is blanketed and turned in for the nighc and given his meal, consisting of hot bran mash, cooked with equal parts of fiaxsced and oats. I usually season it up with a small handful of salt, so that he will like it. A pail of water and a fork of hay is left in the stall with him, so that he may eat and drink wuen he feels like it. His man sleeps in the stall with him to see that he wants nothing. Every iiorse has his man. I brought clow* 12 horses and 12 men. Each man is responsible tc me foi his horse. Nothing must happen to him during the night. If the horse gets sick the man must know ill and call me."