1?5 V 2 ON" THE PACES AND 



every experienced jockey knows he can neither 

 go fleadily and well, nor lafl his time. It 

 is not the cuftom of the fchools to fpur the 

 horfe with a kick ; but fpurring is always 

 fo performed, upon t,he road and field ; as the 

 military mode of giving that correction would 

 quite derange a jockey-feat, and would be on 

 other accounts inconvenient. 



The late M. St. Bel intended to have pre- 

 fented us w T ith an eflay upon Englifn equita- 

 tion ; a fubjecl, wherein I judge he would have 

 failed, from a want of practical experience. 

 His intention was doubtlefs to have recom- 

 mended our return to the military or riding- 

 houfe forms, to which alone, he had been accuf- 

 tomed, in his .own country ; the conftant aim 

 alfo of pur riding-mailers : fo much in nature it 

 is, to be prejudiced in favour of our own pecu- 

 liar habits, an argument which I have no objec- 

 tion to- fee turned againfl: myfelf. The war, in 

 truth, has very much diffufed the habit of mili- 

 tary riding, and we had, two or three years fince, 

 a very curious example of it upon the turf. 

 A gentleman engaged to ride four miles againft 

 another, with the condition of preferving the 

 military feat and attitude, throughout the courfe, 

 which he performed, and won the match. We 

 are not however to conclude from a fingle fact, 

 that fuch is the mod fafe, eafy, and advantage- 

 ous mode of jockeyfhip, or that he who is (killed 

 in one particular, is of necefTity, equally expert 

 in every other branch of an art or fcience. 

 Major Jardine fays, that men are frequently 

 good officers of foot, and yet have very little 



knowledge 



