JUMPING. 203 



knowledge, but it can help to win a race. The English system 

 is a matter of good horsemanship, but we must admit that the 

 French system has more chances of success if the horse does 

 not fall. 



In my opinion, the jockeys Hatchet and H. Andrews are 

 brilliant exceptions respecting the way steeplechases are 

 generally ridden. Hatchet has a very remarkable method 

 of riding over fences, and I always follow him with great 

 pleasure, because his style bears out the theory which I am 

 never tired of maintaining — namely, that there is only one 

 way of riding. There is only one kind which is always good 

 on the racecourse as well as for hacking, and without it success 

 is either pure luck or mere knack. 



To see Hatchet ride a steeplechase is a great treat for a 

 connoisseur. He remains glued to the saddle, and daylight is 

 never seen between him and it. On coming up to a fence he 

 does not lean back, for he knows that the impetus of the hind 

 quarters would throw him forward. He gets well down into 

 the saddle and rounds his back so as to keep his seat and 

 suppleness. He holds his hands low, his arms half-extended, 

 and the reins just sufficiently felt to keep him in constant 

 communication with the mouth of the horse. He evidently 

 yields his fingers at the same time as he does his arms, 

 because he is never pulled forward at the moment when the 

 horse stretches out his head and neck to jump. He keeps a 

 nice feeling on the reins — more by the play of the fingers than 

 by that of the arms — even during the wild speed of a race, 

 which is a fact that few sportsmen will admit. Also, he keeps 

 his position before, during, and after a jump. With him there 

 is not the slightest shock ; everything is smooth and perfect. 



I often hear people say on racecourses that if a horse is 

 going to fall, nothing will prevent him, but we can deceive 

 ourselves. It is evident that if an animal makes a mistake 

 and fails, he will fall ; but what I want to say is that a mistake 



