TJic Country Gcntlanau's Magazine 26- 



NORSES AND HORSEMEN. 



THE Sportsmans " Special Commis- twenty-eight fences like swallows in their 

 sioner " pens the following excellent flight, while thousands of people are trans- 

 remarks under the above heading:— fixed, as it were, with wonder and admira- 

 Xenophon wrote that " it is on horseback tion of the speed and endurance of the 

 gods and heroes are painted," and that " men horses, and the pluck and skill of their riders, 

 who manage their horses gracefully present Such is the estimation in which horses and 

 a most magnificent spectacle." Although horsemen — combined with the sport they 

 this would be considered a rather extravagant provide — are held in this country, that 

 style of writing in the present day, every true- I am not exaggerating when I state that 

 bred Briton will readily admit that practical millions of people are annually^ congregated 

 horsemanship is a most desirable and agree- on the racecourse in the British isles to 

 able accomplishment. There is also a free- witness the fleetness of the one and the 

 masonry among men who are accustomed to prowess of the other. Ihese represent ail 

 ride, buy, sell, breed, train, or in any way to classes cf society— as of old— from the crown 

 use the noble animal, that almost instantly and the coronet to the crossmg-sweeper. 

 secures a kindred feeling in any part of Such incidents and associations connected 

 Europe. After a conversation in reference with the turf and the chase have most as- 

 to the production, capabilities, or value of suredly a direct tendency to foster and mi- 

 any kind of horses, men who have never met prove the nervous energy and natural courage 

 before have laid the foundation of a friend- of mankind, and to improve the quality of 

 ship which has endured for years. It is true horses. In fact, the immense sums of money 

 that practical experience in equine knowledge given as prizes to be run for on the turf are 

 is sometimes dearly bought and diflicult to direct proof that racing has, ever since its 

 attain, but there are thousands of plucky first institution in England, been the very 

 Britons who are still determined to have it at best means of encouraging our breed of 

 any jjrice. The science of horsemanship is horses. Last season, the stakes for the 

 also one of the great incentives to maintain Derby amounted to 5125 sovs., the St Leger 

 the chivah-y of our race, and it would be a to 4800, and the Two Thousand Guineas to 

 sorry day for the British people if hunting, 4350 sovs. It is almost invariably the best 

 steeple- chasing, or racing were suffered to formed, most powerful, and soundest horses 

 fall into the category of what is termed — by that win these prizes, and if this is not a 

 the maw- worms of society — '• vulgar sports " sufticient encouragement to breed them, I 

 that ouglit to be put down by Act of Parlia- do not know what other plan to suggest. 

 ment. What can be more noble or spirit- Then we have the splendid trophies m 

 stirring to the thorough Englishman than to the shape of cups to be also run for 

 participate in a ride to hounds in full ciy and won by the best horses over long and 

 or to witness the take off", the graceful rise short distances, to say nothing of the almost 

 into the air, and the simultaneous drop of countless prizes, amounting, in some instances, 

 perhaps five or six horses at the water-jump to very large sums, annually won by animals 

 in the Liverpool (irand National Steeple- of all ages. In fact, the turf is not only a 

 chase. Springing from the green turf or self-supporting institution, but there cannot 

 rather slushy soil on the margin of the be a doubt in the minds of those who study 

 artificial brook, away tlicy stream over nearly the subject and have gained experience by 

 five miles of country, the best of perhaps a travelling into the breeding districts, that it 

 score of competitors skimming over the always has been and is still of immense 



