^2 RACE RIDING, 



horse throws up his head, when trying to " break away," 

 " drop your hands," and he will then lower his head ; 

 when he does so, take a pull at him, for his head is then 

 in the proper position for the bit to act on the gums. 

 When his head is in the air, the snaffle will act only on 

 the corners of his mouth. Never keep a dead pull on the 

 reins, but " give and take," so that the horse may under- 

 stand your wishes by the feeling of his mouth. Who has 

 ever seen a horse run away with George Fordham } And 

 yet he has but a small amount of "brute force." 



The jockey should keep his hands " down," so that the 

 horse may be able to carry his head and neck in the best 

 possible manner for favouring the movements of his 

 limbs and loins. It is most important that the natural 

 position of the vertebrae of the neck and back should 

 not be interfered with. We know from experience 

 that a horse cannot kick freely if his head is held up. 

 Neither can he gallop " in form " with his nose in the 

 air. The hands alone must be employed to keep the 

 head down, for if a short martingale be used, the proba- 

 bility is that the horse will not face it kindly. That 

 valuable piece of saddle-gear should be employed only 

 for giving the rider a good " hold " of the horse's head, 

 and for enabling him to keep him straight. 



