Although trotting is admitted one of the natural paces of a horse, yet it will admit of great improvement, by the persevering exertions of art. It is a long-standing remark, that "a butcher always rides a trotter;" and why is it? because they invariably make them so: they in general ride them no other pace: they all know they have the credit of "making trotters," and they are incessantly alive to the preservation of their professional reputation. That horses may be taught, by time and patience, to exceed their original trotting, two or three miles an hour, is as certain, as that blood horses exceed their former speed a full distance in four miles by training. It is within the memory of many, that fourteen miles within an hour was thought excellent trotting, and fifteen was considered a wonderful performance, all which is long since buried in oblivion, by the almost incredible exploits of the last few years.
Famous trotters have undoubtedly been produced from different parts of the kingdom; but Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Norfolk, are said to have exceeded all others in their proportion; and this may probably with justice be attributed to those famous trotting stallions, "Old Shields," "Useful Cub," and "Hue and Cry," who principally covered that scope of country. The celebrated trotter Archer was descended from Old Shields; he was a remarkably strong horse, master of fifteen stone, and the fastest trotting horse of his time; but was cruelly destroyed, by being inhumanly matched to trot upon the road sixteen miles within the hour in the midst of a very severe frost: the poor persevering animal performed it in less than fifty five minutes; but the violent concussions sustained by the body, and the battering upon the feet by the dreadfully hard state of the road, produced symptoms which soon put a period to his existence.
A brown mare, the last proprietor of whom was Mr. Bishop, trotted upon the Epsom road, sixteen miles in fifty-eight minutes and a half, carrying twelve stone; and it was then said to have been the first time that distance had ever been trotted within the hour. In 1791, being eighteen years old, she trotted on the Essex road, sixteen miles in fifty-eight minutes and some seconds, beating a famous trotter of Mr. Green's for fifty pounds; and it was the opinion of the sporting parties concerned, that she would have trotted thirty miles within two hours; a distance which was actually trotted in two hours and ten minutes, by the celebrated chesnut mare of Mr. Ogden's. A grey mare, called the Locksmith's, trotted seventy-two miles in six hours. In 1793, a grey mare, of Mr. Crocket's, trotted one hundred miles in twelve hours, and had twenty minutes to spare. A five year old, son of young Pretender, (who was got by Hue and Cry,) trotted in Lincolnshire, sixteen miles in fifty-nine minutes, carrying fifteen stone.
In April, 1792, a bay gelding, called Spider, and an old chesnut gelding, called Cartwright, near thirty years old, trotted thirty-two miles in two hours between Stilton and Cambridge. Spider trotted the first twenty-four miles in one hour twenty-eight minutes and a half, and the old horse the remainder. It was supposed they could have trotted thirty-four miles within the time agreed on. In 1797, Mr. Dyson made a bet of 100 guineas with Mr. Fagg, that he would produce a mare which should trot upon the road between Cambridge and Huntingdon seventeen miles within the hour: the experiment was made on the 7th of August in that year, and the mare lost by one minute and four seconds only. On the 13th of June, 1799, a trotting match was decided over Sunbury Common, between Mr. Dixon's brown gelding and Mr. Bishop's grey gelding, carrying twelve stone each, which was won by the former, having trotted the eight miles in twenty-seven minutes and ten seconds. Extraordinary as these performances have been, no less entitled to recital, is a bet made by Mr. Stevens, which was decided on the 5th of October, 1796, that he would produce a pair of horses, his own property, that should trot in a tandem from Windsor to Hampton Court, a distance of sixteen miles, within the hour: notwithstanding the cross country road, and great number of turnings, they performed it with ease in fifty-seven minutes and thirteen seconds.
TRUMPATOR
,—the name of a horse whose performances on the turf insured him infinite opportunities of acquiring additional celebrity as a STALLION, which he has now supported for twelve years, and is announced for the present season, 1803, at Clermont Lodge, near Brandon, Norfolk, at eight guineas each mare, and half a guinea the groom. Trumpator was bred by Lord Clermont, foaled in 1782; got by Conductor, out of Brunette, who was got by Squirrel. The first of his get started in 1790, at two years old, and were both winners, under the names of Black Deuce, and Young Peggy. In 1791, Trumpetta appeared at only two years old, and won 200 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket; and Young Peggy, then three years old, won seven stakes and matches at Newmarket. In 1792, Trumpetta, then three years old, won five prizes at Newmarket. Rally, only two years old, won 100 guineas and 50l. at the same place. This year appeared also Gipsey, Misenus, and a chesnut colt, the winners of six stakes at Newmarket. In 1793, nine of his get started, who were the winners of twenty plates, matches and sweepstakes. In 1794, Aimator, Paynator, Repeator, and four others, were the winners of twenty-one prizes, when his reputation as a stallion became firmly established.
In 1795 appeared ten winners of twenty-two prizes, amongst whom were Ploughator, Oateater, and Trumpeter; the first and last of which were then only two years old. In 1796, thirteen of his produce started, and were the winners of thirty-eight plates, matches, and sweepstakes. Of these, Aimator won 500 guineas, 400 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. Didelot, the Prince's stakes, 100 guineas, six subscribers; and the Derby stakes of 50 guineas each, half forfeit, when eleven started; the rest paid. Hornpipe won five times at Newmarket, Epsom, Brighton, and Lewes. Paynator won 50l. 100 guineas, the first class and main of the Oatlands Stakes at Newmarket. Repeator, seven plates, matches, and stakes, at Newmarket, Ipswich, Brighton, and Lewes. Spinetta won 200 guineas, and 50 guineas, at Newmarket. Spoliator won the King's Plate at Ipswich; 50l., 200 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. True Blue, 80 guineas at Epsom, and 50l. at Ludlow. Trumpeter, three fifties, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket.
In 1797, ten of his get started, and were winners of sixteen prizes. In 1798, fifteen appeared, and were the winners of twenty-nine. In 1799, eighteen of his get started, and were winners of thirty three; amongst whom Chippenham, then three years old, won 400 guineas, and 300 guineas, at Newmarket. Sorcerer, three years old, 100 guineas at Newmarket. Spoliator won six stakes and matches, all at Newmarket! and Trumpeter won three at Newmarket, and one at Lewes. In 1800, nine started, who were the winners of twenty-five. Sorcerer, then four years old, won 100 guineas, 150 guineas, 50l., 200 guineas, and the October Oatlands, at Newmarket, and the King's Plate at Ipswich. Thais, only two years old, won 400 guineas at Brighton, 60 guineas at Egham, and 100 guineas at Newmarket; and Tuneful, only three years old, won twice at Newmarket, and twice at Canterbury. In 1801 he seemed to have attained the zenith of celebrity; thirteen of his produce were the winners of forty-three plates, matches, and sweepstakes. Sorcerer won six at Newmarket, 50l. at Oxford, the King's Plate at Burford, and 70 guineas at Lewes. Chippenham won six at Newmarket, and 50l. at Shrewsbury. Penelope only three years old, won five at Newmarket, and the King's Plate at Ipswich. Rebel won 90 guineas at Bibury, two fifties at the same place, and the Petworth Stakes at Brighton. In 1802, twelve were the winners of forty-one prizes of different descriptions, of which Edgar won nine; Orange Flower, eight; Chippenham, five; Rebel, four; Pacificator, three; and the remainder two each; under which repetition of success, through so great a variety of channels, the blood of his progeny bids fair to stand in no unfavourable degree of estimation.
TUMOURS
—are preternatural enlargements in any part of the body or extremities of a horse, occasioned by external injuries, or arising from internal causes, requiring different modes of treatment, according to appearances, or the means by which they have been produced. Swellings proceeding from blows, bruises, and other accidents, are, in general, merely temporary, and submit to such cool repellents, and mild astringents, as are usually applied upon such occasions; but not submitting in a few days, a formation of matter may be suspected, and should expeditiously be promoted; for which purpose, fomentations, poultices, and patience, are the only aids required. See "Abcess," and "Strangles."