SCHOOLING. 301 



not be too large. The animal has hardly any resource but to 

 go, and he learns to get over the various obstacles in the 

 manner easiest to himself. Such a school has for several years 

 past been in use at Kentford, Captain MachelPs training-ground 

 near Newmarket, and here James Jewitt has given several 

 famous animals the rudiments of their education. l 



Yet another plan, generally adopted in Ireland, is to drive the 

 pupil straight across country with long reins. The reins must, 

 of course, be in the hands of careful men who understand their 

 business, will not jerk the horse's mouth as he lands on a big 

 place, or otherwise check his natural freedom. Seeing how 

 many chases Irish horses win, it would be rash to find fault 

 with Irish methods. 



A horse has, however, to jump in a race with a rider on his 

 back, and it is therefore desirable that he should learn his 

 lessons after the fashion in which he will subsequently put them 

 into practice. 



Throughout the whole business of schooling it cannot be 

 too urgently insisted on that patience is the first necessity. 

 To inspire the horse with confidence in his own powers is a 

 leading object of all teaching. If he be a sulky, obstinate 

 brute, if he persistently refuse to jump, so that the question 

 who is master has to be fought out, his chances of success as a 

 chaser diminish with every stroke of the whip or prick of the 

 spur. The horse may go on apparently well for a time under 

 severe treatment, but it wants a bold generous animal to win 

 steeple-chases, and, unless the horse knows his rider and re- 

 members that the wearer of the spurs has got the upper hand 

 more than once, fits of sulkiness are apt to return when most 

 undesirable. 



The question of temper has, however, been considered in 

 the chapter on 'The Selection of the Chaser,' and, properly 

 handled, there should be nothing in the business of teaching 

 him to jump to bring out hitherto undeveloped obstinacy. It 



1 Mr. Arthur Yates, after training without a school for many years, has 

 lately caused one to be erected at Bishop's Sutton. 



