148 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA. 



a small present, say Us. 5, when any of the horses win. 

 The master should be most careful in keeping them in 

 their place, and should always insist on their helping the 

 syces when grooming. Treat them fairly, and a little 

 liberally at times, but never " give them their heads," 

 nor allow them to gallop a horse, or take one out of the 

 stable without being present one's self. The three great 

 faults of native boys are, that they ride with t.oo long 

 stirrups, stick their toes out too much in front, and don't 

 " ride a horse up to his bridle ; " this latter failing is 

 most marked in race riding. Besides this, when silk is 

 donned, they almost all lose their heads when it comes 

 to a finish with English jockeys. 



After a native boy has been taught to ride with a 

 fair seat and good hands, the next thing is to give him 

 some idea of pace, which is usually taught by employ- 

 ing the " anna system." As there are sixteen annas in 

 a rupee, a four-anna gallop is made to stand for quar- 

 ter, eight annas for half, twelve annas for three quar- 

 ters, and sixteen annas for full speed. 



Each quarter of a mile being clearly marked by a 

 post or pillar on the course where horses are galloped, 

 the trainer, when instructing native boys, should 

 tell them, before each gallop is given, how many annas' 

 speed he wants, and then may accurately time each 

 quarter of a mile with his stop watch, so that, after the 

 gallop, he may be able to correct the boy, and point out 

 where the latter went too fast, or too slow, as the case 

 may be. The eye alone is not sufficient to detect slight 

 variations of pace ; besides that, if the master holds the 

 watch, the boy will more readily believe that he is 



