304 STEEPLE-CHASING. 



whip required. The shouting would persuade him that he is 

 called upon to make some tremendous effort, the whip would 

 not increase his liking for the amusement, and the desirable 

 object is to lead him to believe that the business before him is 

 something which he can accomplish with ease and comfort. 



At this stage it may be wise to instil an idea of racing into 

 him, by letting him overhaul and pass his leader ; and it will 

 in all likelihood be found that, having raced up to the horse in 

 front of him, he will go on by himself with freedom and bold- 

 ness. The necessity for good hands will be obvious. A clumsy 

 rider who jerks his horse's mouth on landing over a fence may 

 do much mischief, for the animal will dread the tug and have 

 a disposition to throw up his head and pause slightly, which is 

 just the opposite of what he should be taught to do. The happy 

 medium is where the bridle assists but in no way hinders. 



From this point to crossing the steeple-chase course, laid 

 out as closely as possible to resemble that which the pupil will 

 be called upon to cross in the actual race, is a mere question 

 of time. With regard to the course, it may be added that there 

 is no harm in half-sawing through the guard-rails before the 

 fences, so that if a horse blunders, though it will take a very 

 hard blow to break them, they can be broken. If this is done 

 the chances of a dangerous accident to the rider as well as to 

 the horse are diminished. The rails are thus sawed in Captain 

 Machell's school. 



Still, between galloping over the course in the style of a 

 steeple-chaser and in the style that is likely to win steeple- 

 chases, there is a difference. Much and constant practice is 

 needed, though the teacher must be careful not to school so 

 long at a time that the horse grows weary of his work. It 

 takes a considerable while to make a perfect chaser, for it must 

 be remembered that a horse cannot jump every day, by reason 

 of the sun-baked ground in summer and the frosts in winter. 

 This is one reason why it has been said that to knock a horse 

 about on the flat, if it has been decided to employ him as a 

 chaser, is usually a mistake. 



