FENCES AXD FEXCING. 



317 



the}' may so be called, made generally of twigs placed upon the 

 top of a low bank, sojiietimes with a rail on the taking-off side 

 and sometimes without. There is a water-jump which has to 

 be crossed — jumped over or in — once or twice, on very rare 

 occasions thrice, during the race ; and a couple of hurdles 

 often form the conventional run in. Steeple-chasing would 

 gain in interest if there were more variety in courses. Every- 

 thing is sacrificed to speed, and it is really of little importance 

 whether the three or four miles be accomplished in a few 

 seconds more or less ; the relative ability of good horses and 

 of good riders is the point to be tested. 



An open brook. 



An attempt was made by the Grand National Hunt com- 

 mittee, in the autumn of 1882, to mitigate the increasing ten- 

 dency towards the growth of what are called ' galloping courses ; ' 

 and the effort was at least well timed, for the abuse had become 

 considerable. The result of their legislation was not ^vholly 

 admirable, how^ever, and it stopped short at salutary reforms 

 which w^ere needed. It was decreed that so many fences must 

 be jumped in every mile, and a new fence was invented, a 

 hedge with a ditch on the taking-off side, six feet in width and 

 lour in depth. The fence was, indeed, a dangerous trap ; 

 for, being cut sharply away from perfectly smooth and level 



