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CHAPTER IV. 



FENCES AND FENCING. 



THE primary idea of a steeple-chase is a contest over so many 

 miles (certainly over more than two, to which so many modern 

 chases are unfortunately limited) of a fair hunting country, a 

 course which differs in several important particulars from the 

 made tracks at present in vogue. A ' fair hunting country ' is 

 no doubt a very comprehensive term. It may signify what 

 sportsmen regard as the best of all possible countries, the 

 spreading Leicestershire pastures, hedges of different sorts, 

 with and without ditches, posts and rails, open brooks and 

 other obstacles ; it may mean the stone walls of Gloucestershire, 

 the Roothing ditches of Essex, the banks of Devonshire ; while 

 the fact remains that in some hunting countries, parts of Wilt- 

 shire, for instance, there are no fences of any description. 

 Ireland, again, has its special characteristics. But the term, 

 open to cavil and to possible misconception as it may be, is 

 perfectly well understood ; and it is beyond all question that a 

 natural course, with varied fences large enough to test the 

 jumping powers of the chaser, would be infinitely better in 

 every respect than the artificial courses which mention of the 

 modern steeple-chase suggests. 



The difference between the ideal chaser that is, the true 

 thoroughbred hunter, with the pace and stamina of a Grand 

 National winner and the performer over regulation courses may 

 not inaptly be likened to the difference between the thorough 

 horseman and the mere jockey. The latter understands the 

 craft of riding races. He is equal to the ordinary demands 

 upon him. But the horseman's knowledge is wider than this. 



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