RIDING THE RACE. 321 



gets into the swing of jumping, notwithstanding that the first 

 couple of fences are generally of a simple character. If he 

 comes down he may probably cause disaster to the horses behind 

 him ; so that, if the rider knows that he is on a safe bold jumper, 

 he should not be far from the head of affairs until a little pre- 

 liminary weeding has been accomplished ; then he may draw 

 back into the place he has been told to keep. It will still be 

 some way home ; for, happily, the Grand National Hunt Com- 

 mittee have emphatically declined to allow any race under their 



A careful eye over the horse. 



rules of less than two miles, such as are run in France. On a 

 broad course, or even on an ordinary course in a fairly long 

 race, it is good policy not to make too much use of the horse 

 till he has fairly settled down to his work. 



It has been assumed that the rider has a seat not to be dis- 

 turbed by the action of jumping a fence, and hands sufficiently 

 light and practised to hold the horse together, with a pull at 

 once gentle and strong. 



Good hands are scarce, absolutely perfect hands almost un- 

 known ; but the rarest attribute of jockeyship is a knowledge of 



Y 



