STEEPLE-CHASING 255 



The partisans of steeple-chasing — and at one period 

 they were numerous — urged that it would prove bene- 

 ficial to hunting, by reason of the encouragement it 

 offered to persons to breed a description of horses par- 

 ticularly adapted to the field. That, however, has 

 turned out to be quite a mistaken notion, for nine- 

 tenths of the steeple-chase horses are worthless as 

 hunters. But without enrolling myself among the 

 admirers of steeple-chasing I fancy that some advan- 

 tages may have arisen from it by the example of good 

 horsemanship. It must be acknowledged that the style 

 of riding of the present day is far superior to that of 

 1825. Many of my readers will probably express as- 

 tonishment at this remark, and exclaim that the taste 

 for steeple-chasing causes men to over-ride hounds 

 and occasions a vast deal of mischief. Yet here let me 

 observe that a man may be a very superior horseman 

 and yet have that self-control not to press unfairly upon 

 hounds. I have often noticed men who have no pre- 

 tensions as horsemen creating the greatest confusion ; 

 and perhaps some notion of their own incompetency 

 added to a little rivalry, or jealousy, or some equally 

 insufficient cause, is the ostensible motive. Following a 

 huntsman when he is making his cast is a pretty certain 

 indication that the moment the hounds get upon the 

 scent it is the intention of the person who perpetrates 

 so unsportmanlike an act to set off and ride before they 

 are steadily settled to their work. A good horseman, 

 having confidence in his ability to secure a good place, 

 will not be so over anxious. 



Where there was one good horseman thirty years ago 

 there are twenty now. In those days there were but 

 few who had the slightest idea of holding their horses 

 together, of selecting the soundest and best ground to 

 ride over, or of looking forward for the most practicable 

 part of the fence ; but with a loose rein, sitting on the 

 horse's back like a sack of grain, you would see the 

 greater portion of those who followed hounds pounding 

 away, as long as the hounds kept on and their horses 



