Lord William looked most carefully after the training of his own horses, and this is no sinecure; they require constant watching. Some have capricious appetites and have to be coaxed with dainties or they will not eat enough, others do not thrive unless they eat grossly and have to be exercised in proportion; here comes in the valuable gift of being able to judge condition, many fail in this most critical point.
It was greatly owing to Lord William’s study of his horses’ characters and temperaments that he was as successful as he was; he knew (none better) that all cannot be treated alike, in sickness and in health, as they say in the Marriage Service; he was also perfectly aware of the uncertainty attached to all matters appertaining to horse-racing. Horses as a rule do their utmost to meet the wishes of their riders, but the training is a severe trial, and the tempers of some give away under it. Their life seems to be one long persecution; it is to be hoped their feeling of fitness makes up for all the fuss and regulations.
Logic is no doubt a good training for owners, leading them to sound judgment, but horses are not given that way.
One good point in Lord William’s training was he did not overtrain, as a rule his horse had a reserve of staying power.
It will be seen that his lordship had plenty to occupy him, in fact considerably overworked himself habitually. Yet always cheerful and comfortably optimistic, and it really requires the temper of an angel to be able to manage horses, stablemen, jockeys, trainers and racing authorities. When we bear in mind that this was Lord William’s recreation, it enables us to form some idea of his busy life.
The State functions which all had to be arranged by him were no trifle, any mistakes or incompetence on the part of the Military Secretary might lead to serious trouble and jealousies. The official visits of the Rajahs to the Viceroy, our King’s representative for the time being, requires a special knowledge, each having to be received according to his rank. Some when coming to pay their respects have to be fetched, as I have already stated, by the Military Secretary, Under-Secretary of the Foreign Department, and an A.D.C. A guard of honour has to await his arrival, much red cloth spread, and a salute fired of as many guns as his rank entitles him, and they keep a very sharp and watchful eye, carefully noting these etiquettes, which are of staggering intricacy when receiving and paying visits. It is also obligatory that the General commanding the district should be in attendance with his A.D.C. Nothing must be left to chance. All is prescribed in the official regulations.