1 ' i/^ j^ Every Man JBlg Own TxalneT, Bead wbat the Iioreenien say about it: P'l.. C. UnderJilIl,N. X.'Sportsman: "One of our |readera bag written me for the best book bn |bow to train, oopdltlon and dtiye oolts and Mrottetg. I tblnk your book (Feek'g) filla tbe pll." ., . h B. C. Walker' ("7fertti^s"),CliIoftgo Borientan "ItlsaweU-dlgegteaepltome of tbe ttathpi;' experience in breaking, training, deyeloplne apd condltlonlog trotters and jager^. Hla | desbriptlong bijUorsMlie has banoledsand^raceH ipoptested brief, fnll' tbey are bvt of good „ conniet^iBtirrlnB.episodeEi and morals. Cliarle« 'Uaririn'S'Obapter on training trotting colts,and ftbe complete list of 2.80 trottet; in katne^ up ito 1889, are yalnable addenda, mk'mi^^ & ibonnd tobepome a standard refetisnoe, ' 'as it 'contains >muk for babes, m^at for .ati&ttgV^en and food for all wbo wish to imbibe orarect I views of tbe trainer's, art:" S. W. Parlin, Ameriedn Cultivator: "It is, in my opinion, by far the begtji,ork of tbe kind - bave overseen, and I 'U3vereaOtbem all." TbomasT. Tai-rell, Medina, N.T.: "There Is many a horseman that conla learn more out of one chapter tbftn they ever knew'.V. • Wm> H. Boyce, Xerfe Haute; Ind;^3he Shoeing of dlfCerent horses as described is worth far more than tbe cost of the book to any dne. A horse ont o^ balance can't possibly be a trotter. "livery Man His OwnTralner,"by A. J. Feek, sent to my address free of postage npon appli- caHon at the ofSce of the liiBBdB akd Fabhbb, Uanchester, N. H.^ by receipt of price, (2.60. Cornell XTlniversit^ OF THE IRew IPorfi State (ToUeoc of agriculture Ag.S5S5. t^.v-hz..... Cornell University Library \1 The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31 9240031 70234 Cornell University Library SF 341.F29 Every man his own trainer; or, How to dev 3 1924 003 170 234 iV^^ -.# f^M^ mi EVBRY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER OR HOW TO DEVELOP, CONDITION AND TRAIN A TROTTER OR PACER; Beginning at the Weanling Four Months Old, And Bringing him Step by Step Through Evert Possible Circum- stance TO THE Mature Grand Circuit Performer, or into THE Hands or a Purchaser who is Willing, to Handsomely Pay for the Speed That is in Him, by A. J. Keek:, Syracuse, N. Y., and a chapter from OF PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA, AND THE 2:30 LIST UP TO 1S89. SYRACUSE, N. Y. MosEB, Tbuax & De Golia, Stationers, Pbiktbes amd Book Bisdbhs. IHU'VlvKUTT IIV A. J, Kkkk A^'ll 11. L. Lkdnaki), Jl. D. SYKAOUSK, N, V, m Missing Page (^Koohester, N. Y.) Horse-Groods Depot—Management of Mares Dur- Breeding Period, Also Stallions—Use Stallion Supiaort—Management and Driving Colt His First Race—Grooms—Loading and Shipping in Cars—A Driver Should Attend to His Horse at All Times—Manage- ment of a Horse in Training—Jane R. King Almont, 42 CHAPTER VII. Kitefoot, Mambriuo, Dudley—The Lysander's, Shipment of Horses to Germany and Austria—Tracks and Races on the Continent. 86 CHAPTER VIII—SHOEING. Examples : King Almont. Lilly Langtry. Lady Whitefoot and El- monarch. 115 CHAPTER IX. How to Pi'epare Manage and Drive a Horse in a Race, 135 CHAPTER X. ' Visit to California, 149 CHAPTER XI. Charles Marvin's Chapter—Training Trotting Colts, 156 CHAPTER XII. Appendix—Rattles and Loaded Rolls, 167 CHAPTER XIII. List of 2:30 Horses in Harness Up to 1889, 168 CHAPTER XIV. List of 2:30 Pacers to the Close of 1888, 259 Introductory. I have noticed for a long time this question appearing in " different papers devoted to equine matters : Where can I buy a book which teaches how to condition, develop, train and drive a trotter or pacer ?'' The answer usually is, "There is none that teaches the art." As the inquirer is. usually some one that fs making a small beginning or venture in the breed- ing line, and cannot afford to place their stock in the hands of a first-class trainer for development, it has occurred to me that it would be a kindness to many thousand small breeders to tell them in plain horse talk all that is known, and all that I have learned in my thirty years' experience in the stable and on the track, filled in with illustrations of certain points which I wish to impress by personal experiences with certain horses which I have handled and driven in races through the Grand Circuit and elsewhere. It has been twenty-one years since any work of this kind has been attempted, and in that time the changes have been such that the methods then in use have become obsolete and have been retired to " inoccuous desuetude." There has been such an advance and improvement over the days of Hiram Woodruff, that if he were now on earth he would hardly rec- ognize his loved art, the improvement has been so great. I do not expect this work will be above criticism as a literary production, as that is not in my line, but I do mean its horse talk to be comprehensive, instructive, and adapted to those readers whom I expect will profit by its perusal. Any man that has horses in training can by studying this work see that they are properly handled, and if necessary can oversee and direct their preparation. This work will also con- tain the 2:30 list complete up to Jan. 1st, 1889, as I believe this work will go into the hands of many farmers who would never see it in any other book. A. J. FEEK, Jan. 1st, 1889. Syracuse, N. Y. Every Man His Own Trainer. CHAPTER I. The reasons why I decided to write this book, in addi- tion to what I have said in the introductory why I publish this work, I will say that I could spend nearly all my time answering questions in regard to this subject. A very inti- mate friend will call at my house, and, after a heartfelt greet- ing and hand grasp, will say Jack, (remember this gentleman is an intimate friend), he has passed the formality of Mr. Feek; Jack, what shall I do to get my trotter going ? And, as I love to spfend my time with my friends, I give him hours in inquiring into the characteristics and peculiarities of his horse, and endeavoring to give him advice which will bring his probably recent purchase to the front, and thereby benefit him financially, but does not buy oats for my horses. After my friend has bowed himself out, I start for my stable, and, as I pass around the first street corner I meet a gentleman who cordially grasps my hand and says, "How do you do, Mr. Feek? I have been waiting to see you for several days." It maybe Judge R. or Bank President D., who I am bound to treat with courtesy. He goes on to say the man he has employed in his stables says his horses want such and such work, and asks me what I think of it. I of course am obliging, and another half hour is gone without profit. Well I manage to get to the street on which my stable is situated, and I meet an amateur trainer driving out of the park, who has been working a horse, and he appears lame. I am stopped by my would-be brother trainer and asked to look his horse over to locate the trouble. I do so because this man may turn out well and I may meet him on the bat- tle-field of the ring, where a friend is sometimes needed to help the slowest horse around the upper turn, in order that my colors may come first to the wire. When I get to the stable I find a farmer or his son wait- EVERY MAN HIS OWN TRAINER. 5 ing for me, who came in early to inquire when they better be- gin working that trotting colt. I find a horse hitched under the shed, who has been brought to me for advice about shoeing, as it is well known that I superintend the shoeing.of my own horses in every par- ticular; if I can find a smith that will do as I direct, if not, I hire one myself. Well, when I have obliged every one, I am perriiitted to work my own horses for a short time, and after the necessary lessons and business of the day are over I may receive a tele- gram from some proipinent Western or Eastern horseman who is on his way through or changing cars at Syracuse, and desires me to meet him at an evening train. I of course wish to please him, because I may be in his town next week buying a horse, or may be attending a meeting of which he is Secretary or President. Sometimes it is only a social re- union he desires; more often he has some horse he wants to consult me about who has peculiarities that he thinks I may overcome, and thereby increase the value of his stock. I say Mr. F. or Mr. E., " You have competent trainers, and those who have a National reputation in your town, why don't you employ them ?" " Well, Mr. Feek, Iwill tell you, Mr. S. or Mr.