310 STEEPLE-CHASING. 



that they should not be held together and steadied when they 

 jump. This is most essential ; for, if hurried, driven recklessly 

 at a fence, a horse, even if he be clever and well -practised, is 

 likely to make a mistake, to take off too soon, to get right 

 under the fence so that he cannot clear it, or, perhaps the most 

 probable result of all, to overjump himself so that he cannot 

 recover and must fall. 



If, instead of this, the fences are fairly large, so that the 

 rider is obliged to steady his horse for the effort, the danger of a 

 fall is greatly decreased. The animal, instead of rushing at the 

 obstacle in a loose and unconnected way, gets his hind-legs well 

 under him, collects his strength, is to the fullest extent master 

 of his powers, and so is likely to clear the jump, and to land as 

 he must do to get well away again, without a pause or a peck. 



If this caution be overdone, as it may be by a timid rider, 

 the horse will not, of course, win his race. Discrimination 

 must also be used as to the method of riding at fences of 

 various kinds. A horse must of necessity be driven speedily 

 at. a wide water-jump, or he will lack the impetus to carry him 

 over ; in almost every modern course there is a low fence 

 before the brook, and this is a useful guide to the horse, show- 

 ing him where to take off. At this, the water being of moderate 

 width, a horse must gallop hard ; but should there be a rail 

 rather high up before the next fence, the horse must be pulled 

 together and sent at it in somewhat more collected form. 



It is unfortunately the case that the majority of modern 

 made courses are of the same pattern. There are hedges, if 

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

 top of a low bank, sometimes 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 



