DEVELOPING SPEED.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 743, 2 June 1904, Page 10

DEVELOPING SPEED.

Just how to develop the speed of horses is one of the problems that confronts every trainer of harness horses. It is highly probable that each pupil requires a little different handling, and different lessons, from the common run of horses, but there should be some general rules for the development of speed that all trainers can follow with advantage. All development should be gradual. Most trainers when they see their pupil show an improved gait are anxious to increase it too rapidly. They keep him up to the top of his speed from day to day, or every other day, until he becomes sore and sour in disposition, and he frequently gets to growing slower instead of faster. Many keep at it till they ‘ ‘ kill the goose that would have laid the golden egg,’’ that is, spoil the colt entirely for speed purposes. It does not answer either to confine the pupil to jogging only. Jogging is necessary, but when the colt feels like stepping fast, give him a short brush, let him rest up a little and let him have another brush if he wants to take it—but don’t give him too much fast work, not enough to tire and dishearten. It is true, the only way to develop speed is to develop it, let the colt step at his best dip several times a week if he is well booted, so as not to strike himself. With older horses one of the great faults with many trainers is to give their horses too much fast work early in the season. It really takes weeks and months to properly prepare a horse for fast work. He must be fitted by degrees. A short brush at moderate speed occasionally is a good thing, but too much fast work is ruinous. Fast trials should not be indulged until a few weeks before the horse is expected to race, and then not up to the top of his clip. Many a race has been lost by fast trials before the race has begun. Reserve the supreme effort for the race itself. We by no means say that well regulated trials are not essential to prepare the horse for races—but give them in several seconds slower time than the horse is able to show when all out. Like in everything else, the trainer with the most brains and who is thoroughly devoted to his business will achieve the greatest success.— “The Breeder and Sportsman.”