Seabiscuit

In this chapter, Hillenbrand explains how Smith, with Pollard’s help, got Seabiscuit into physical and mental shape to race. Ever since Howard had acquired Seabiscuit, the horse had been a terror, lunging at anyone who came nearby. He was also worn out and underweight by about 200 pounds. Smith was patient in bringing him around. One common method of calming horses was using another animal as a companion. Smith first tried a goat, but that didn’t work. Then he tried an older, experienced horse named Pumpkin, who was known for his unflappable demeanor. They hit it off, and Smith combined two stalls to make one big enough for the both of them. Along the way, a dog and a spider monkey also became pals of Seabiscuit, and this little menagerie helped calm him down. 

To attend to Seabiscuit’s physical needs, Smith concocted a special ointment for his battered legs and wrapped them in a kind of cotton sheath. He also put him on a special diet. In terms of running, the horse was a disaster at first, doing the opposite of everything his rider asked of him. Smith’s answer was to “take coercion out of the equation and let the horse discover the pleasure of speed,” telling the rider to just let Seabiscuit do what he pleased (101).