Mr. J. M. Richardson's Writings Collated 



hunting regularly three or four times a week they are, there- 

 fore, perfectly trained for riding a race. 



In addition, they will probably take no end of trouble in 

 going for long walks, indulging in Turkish baths, and so on. 

 All this is of very little use as compared with riding gallops, 

 both on the flat and over a country, several days in the 

 week. 



Going fast through the air on a pulling horse tries the wind 

 of a rider, as well as the muscles of his arms and legs, far 

 more than any hunting can, no matter how fast or how long 

 it may be. There is no necessity for any great training of 

 the body. Only ride gallops steadily every morning, and you 

 will find yourself in perfect wind, and not tire after the 

 severest race. 



The usual day's work, when I had steeplechase horses at 

 Limber, was to go out every morning before breakfast and ride 

 two or three different horses in three-miles over fences, and 

 after the matutinal meal go out for a day's hunting. Of 

 course you want to be young and full of energy for this kind 

 of work, as one often jumped more fences during the morning 

 than in the day's hunting, especially if it were a moderate 

 scenting day. 



Nothing did one more good than to repair to Newmarket 

 after the steeplechasing was over, and ride gallops on the flat 

 and in trials of perhaps six or five furlongs, riding the older 

 horse against the two-year-olds. 



Practice of this sort taught you to jump off and get your 

 horse into his stride quickly without hustling him, and was of 

 the greatest assistance in making you a good judge of pace. 

 It also kept one in perfect wind. 



Had I not ridden gallops over short courses every day, I 

 do not think I could have won short races like the two welters 



221 



