2 GENERAL VIEW OF RIDING. 



ground, and are negotiated at a time when the horse's 

 powers are unimpaired by severe exertion. In flat-race 

 riding, which demands in the highest degree knowledge of 

 pace and clever generalship, there is but little variety in 

 the conditions of ground. Even in steeplechase riding, the 

 fences are more or less of the " sealed pattern " order, and, 

 like on the flat, the distance and ground are known before- 

 hand. In rough-riding as I have seen it practised on 

 buck-jumpers by Australians, Cowboys, and Cossacks, and 

 on difficult animals of all kinds in various parts of the 

 world the game is almost entirely one of sticking on. In 

 Australia and New Zealand, the fences are high and stiff; 

 but the variety in obstacles and ground is much less. In 

 pigsticking in India, as I knew it many years ago when 

 I was a subaltern in the " Gunners," and a member of the 

 Nagpore Hunt, there is an almost entire absence of fences ; 

 but the ground is generally far more dangerous to ride 

 over than any line of hunting country, especially as full 

 speed is always the order of the day. Consequently, no 

 form of riding requires more trust in the honour of the 

 horse and forbearance from pulling his mouth about, than 

 the chase of the wild boar. In polo, the player needs all 

 the control of military equitation, with the addition of 

 ability in " riding out." 



The possession of consummate skill in one form of riding 

 by no means implies competency in other varieties of this 

 art. Some of our best steeplechase jockeys have been 

 very moderate on the flat ; and few flat-race jockeys are 

 good across country, though some of our best flat-race 

 jockeys have been and are very good men to hounds. 

 " Morny " Cannon, though not such a good horseman as his 

 father, can more than take his own part over a country, 

 whilst the followers of the Newmarket Drag Hounds, mostly 

 flat-race jockeys, are extra keen about riding over fences. 



