STEEPLECHASE RIDING. 445 



it is better to go too slow, with the horse properly in hand, 

 than very fast with a loose rein at water. 



If possible a man should avoid riding close, say half a 

 length, behind an opponent in a chase when nearing a fence ; 

 for in such a case, the horse will be very apt to " take off " 

 at the same instant the other does so, and consequently, to 

 jump too soon. When galloping side by side, horses seem to 



Fig. 258. Water jump in front of Grand Stand. 



like going stride for stride with each other. Besides this, the 

 one that is a little behind may pay more attention to looking 

 at his adversary than at the fence. I have seen on different 

 occasions horses come to grief in this manner and also 

 from an opponent who has a slight lead, " rushing them " at 

 their jumps with the intention of thus bringing them down. 



If a horse be alongside another in a chase, it is usually 

 much better to have him on one's near side than on the off ; 

 for if horses refuse, they generally do so to the left, the cause 

 for this often being the injudicious use of the whip on some 



