STEEPLECHASE RIDING. 



443 



will not be able to see his fences properly if he has another 

 right in front of him. The recent and far too frequent 

 occasions of horses having been jumped upon and hurt shows 

 what miserably incompetent so-called steeplechase jockeys we 

 have at the present day. By adopting the American seat 

 they are unable to sit their horses properly at fences, and 

 their acrobatic tricks are a travesty on the art of riding. If 



Fig. 255. Side view of isth fence, at Old Distance Post. 



the horse has a fine turn of speed, but requires a lead, the 

 rider may keep him thirty or forty yards behind any clever 

 fencer which is going fast enough. 



When a man is on a horse which he can trust, and is free 

 to take his own line, he should, within reasonable limits, 

 keep as close as he can to the inside flags, so as to save 

 ground. An inexperienced rider often loses a lot of distance 

 by needlessly avoiding the inside of the course. 



Unless the field is racing very fast, a jockey should try to 



