STEEPLECHASE RIDING. 441 



referring to steeplechasing, and not to crossing country on 

 occasions when the horseman can take his own time. 



The horse's head should never be let loose. An extra 

 pull should be taken, when going through heavy ground, 

 so as to make him shorten his stride. 



The rider should endeavour, as a rule, to get away in 

 front for the first couple of fences. He will thus avoid 

 being jostled, or " carried out," by any determined refuser 

 which may happen to start ; and will also have a clear 

 view of his country, instead of it being obscured by a 



Fig. 252. Valentine's Brook fence (gth and 25th). Canal bridge in the distance. 



crowd in front of him. As the first two or three fences 

 are generally low and easy, there is little risk in racing at 

 them on a fresh horse, who, if he has any pretensions to 

 the name of a steeplechaser, ought to permit this small 

 liberty to be taken with him. When the rider finds his 

 road is clear, he may settle down and ride as he thinks fit. 

 If the ground is dusty, as very often happens in India, it 

 is all-important to get well away at the drop of the flag. 



A jockey should take his own line, and -should not ride 

 close in the track of any other horse ; for if he does so, he 

 will, in the event of his leader making a mistake run a 

 great risk of coming to grief, with the off chance of jump- 

 ing on and perhaps killing his man. Besides, his animal 



