THE WHIP, 121 



preventing him from swerving, etc. When he is hit in 

 this manner, the side away from the whip hand will, 

 if anything, be hurt more than the other, so that the 

 horse will not be so liable to swerve as he would be, 

 were he hit in any other way. Besides, hitting him thus 

 on the centre of the body will not " double him up," nor 

 wdll make him change his leg, as striking him on the flank 

 or shoulder might do. A jockey who punishes a horse 

 about the sheath, or rips his sides with the spurs, is a 

 disgrace to his profession. 



During a race, the whip should be held lash down with 

 the hand that holds it on the reins, for if it be kept up, 

 the horse will very probably watch it, expecting a cut 

 every moment, and his attention will thereby be dis- 

 tracted from his work. When the moment comes to 

 use the whip, it should be quickly " picked up," in the 

 manner described on the next and succeeding pages, 

 while the reins are grasped firmly in the other hand ; the 

 rider should sit well down in his saddle, keep his shoulders 

 square, lean back, draw his feet back, and keep his 

 body as steady as possible, so that it may not get any 

 sway from the arm, which might interfere with the 

 motion of the horse, and thus jeopardize his chance of 

 winning. 



