336 STEEPLE-CHASING. 



may be for the follower that the hurdle-race is practically 

 reduced to a flat race ; but the risks are very seriously increased. 

 A horse is just as likely to gallop into a fallen hurdle and 

 come down heavily as to win his race. 



The secret of success over the sticks is nevertheless, it may 

 be said, to run the race as if the hurdles were not there ; but 

 this, it must be most distinctly understood, can only be done 

 after continuous practice by a thoroughly well-schooled horse 

 that has shown marked aptitude for the sport, and he, the 

 perfect hurdle-jumper, takes the flights as they come without 

 anything approaching to a pause on either side. He is so little 

 disturbed that he does not lose his stride, and is off on landing 

 as if he had been galloping on without interruption. The art 

 of the sport consists of teaching the horse this knack, and of 

 riding him so that he makes the most of it. The sweeping 

 stride of the well-trained thoroughbred horse carries him over 

 these jumps with astonishing ease when once he gets into the 

 way of doing what is required of him. 



It is surprising how cleverly a really good hurdle-racer will 

 judge his distance, prepare for the jump and glide over it. 

 Chandos, winner of several of the chief hurdle-races, was a case 

 in point. Six or eight strides from the obstacle he could 

 be felt by his jockey to be making ready for the jump, to be 

 measuring his ground, so that he was always in the right place 

 to take off, without rising too soon or putting in a shortened 

 stride to bring him to the proper spot for his leap. Other 

 horses have shown the same faculty, and how pleasant they 

 are to ride need not be emphasised. They understand the 

 business thoroughly, know perfectly well how to take care of 

 themselves, there is not the slightest fear of a refusal. 



This is naturally the result of assiduous practice, and some- 

 thing more than merely light hands are required to make such 

 jumpers. It must also be strictly borne in mind that there is a 

 vast difference between schooling and racing. A horse often 

 jumps hurdles in excellent style at home gallops up to them, 

 and is over and away. When he appears in public he gets 



