3o8 STEEPLE-CHASING. 



is a great fault in most training-stables that a horse's disposi- 

 tion is not sufficiently studied. A certain routine is undergone. 

 He does his work, is dressed over and made up ; his physical 

 health is carefully regarded, but the scantiest attention is be- 

 stowed upon his disposition ; and in chasing, where, as it has 

 been said, so much more is left to a horse's discretion than in 

 the simpler business of flat-racing, it is particularly needful that 

 the point should not be overlooked. The amount of harm a 

 clumsy ill-conditioned lad can do to a horse either out at exer- 

 cise or in the stable is very considerable ; and if, in addition, in 

 his first essays at the real sport, he is ridden by a bad jockey, 

 the pupil may be ruined, whereas in good hands he would have 

 won a great name for himself. 



It may be inferred that the horse chosen is kind and 

 willing, and will understand and appreciate the encouragement 

 bestowed upon him for doing his work. Most likely he will 

 leave off after the first lesson with a decided interest in the 

 novel occupation, and when brought out to work next day will 

 show an anxiety to follow his leader. 



By degrees he should be taken to higher jumps, the size 

 increasing gradually, the guard-rail raised a few inches from 

 the ground, and as soon as this is jumped with ease, a ditch 

 about a foot or so in width may be dug before the fence. 

 Used, as he will by this time be, to galloping over the earlier 

 jumps, he will bound over these as a matter of course. Here, 

 too, a little variety may be given him in the shape of a brook. 

 Many horses that will jump anything else refuse- water, and 

 it is obviously of very little avail to do all the rest well in a 

 steeple-chase if the should-be winner refuses the water-jump. 

 Here again the smaller the thing to be crossed in the early 

 lessons the better. There is most likely a narrow stream of 

 some sort in the neighbourhood, and over this the pupil may 

 be taken ; if not, a little brook should be dug, if only four or 

 five feet broad it will suffice, the object being to make the 

 youngster familiar with the glitter of the water. 



Hitherto the horse has been taken steadily over these httle 



