134 STEEPLECHASE RIDING. 



much better to have him on one's near side than on the 

 off ; for if horses refuse, they generally do so to the left, 

 the cause for this often being the injudicious use of the 

 whip on some previous occasion. Besides this, horses 

 are led, handled and mounted more on the near than on 

 the off side, which naturally makes them turn more 

 readily to it. With a horse on the near side, when 

 coming to a fence, one escapes to a great measure the 

 dsk of his running into one, while having him there may 

 prevent one's own horse refusing if he be that way 

 inclined. When riding a horse which is at all inclined 

 to run out, one may with advantage carry the whip in 

 the hand to which he shows a tendency to refuse. 



Stirrup leathers for riding across country should 

 generally be a hole or two shorter than for the flat. 



The remarks I have made on flat race riding apply, 

 witliin certain limits, equally well to chasing. 



