RIDING LADS. 147 



Arabs. On the other hand, too light a lad, say one of 

 7 stone, may not be strong enough to hold a big horse 

 together, and it is always better to put up a little extra 

 weight in the shape of muscle, than to allow a horse, 

 and particularly a young one, to sprawl all over the place. 

 When a horse has once learned to gallop, unless he be a 

 determined puller, an 8-stone lad will generally be able to 

 do all that is wanted, and with such an one up if he be at 

 all a " workman" a horse's legs will stand far longer 

 than under a heavier weight, while the owner need not 

 fear fast Work in the same degree, as he should do with 

 the other. One may sometimes chance on an English 

 jockey that is light, does not drink, and is a good race 

 rider. Such a man is indeed a treasure, and will be 

 cheap at Rs. 150 a month, five gold mohurs for a win- 

 ing, and Rs. 50 for a losing, mount, if an owner keeps 

 four or five horses. But anything short of the genuine 

 article should be shunned, for one of the nondescript lot 

 would take more looking after than a stable of twenty 

 horses. In default of a regular English jockey, an 

 owner's only safety is in employing quiet native lads. 

 Probably he will have to make a selection from his 

 syces and grass-cutters, or from their sons, and be 

 obliged to teach them himself to ride. As the British 

 nondescript is to be avoided, so is the genuine " coach- 

 wan," who delights in gold laced caps, and in sticking 

 out his toes in front of his horse's nose. The best native 

 riding lads I have met have been syces' sons, whom 

 their masters taught, and succeeded in keeping in order. 

 From Rs. 6 to Rs. 10 the " coachwan " will require 

 Rs. 30 a month -will be quite enough for such boys, with 



