FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



Your 'chaser cannot be too bold, nor too rash ; 

 he should never (if you can help it) think he can 

 fall, and be willing to go anywhere that he is 

 headed without hesitation, and to take any and 

 every chance ; for with our fields always crowded 

 at the fences, and the patrol judges and stewards 

 overlooking much jostling, a cowardly horse has 

 no chance, and the first bump puts him out of 

 the game. For this reason the horse that leads 

 the pupil in his work must be as bold as a lion at 

 all times, and go flying at everything without 

 hesitation. A shifty, dodging, propping old 

 rascal that begins to hang and swerve the moment 

 a fence heaves in view is the last schoolmaster 

 the youngster should follow ; and, in fact, the 

 young 'chaser should always jump his fences 

 either lapped on, or head and head with, his 

 mates ; head and head at first, because, if half a 

 length or more back, the green one will take off 

 when the horse in front does (possibly) have just 

 that much farther to spring and get a bad fall in 

 consequence. This jumping in company is most 

 essential, because it makes the pupil look out for 

 himself and get used to the rush and turmoil of 

 horses all about (and upon) him, and teaches him 

 to time his eye and his muscles to act indepen- 



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