RACE AND SHOWYARD RIDING 243 



jockey stretched out upon the horse's neck, 

 supporting himself to a great degree by the bit, 

 is far beyond the hmbs which support the body 

 of the horse." 



Moreover, a year or two ago we saw what 

 havoc the Aintree fences made of the American 

 seat, when one jockey after another either cut 

 a voluntary or brought his horse down. However 

 if a gentleman takes to race riding he will have 

 to conform to the ideas of the trainer for whom 

 he is riding ; — that he must make up his mind 

 to from the beginning. 



The Hunt Meeting or the point-to-point gather- 

 ing are however more likely to find occupation 

 for the man, who, without any disrespect, is 

 perhaps best described as the amateur. The 

 Gentleman Rider to whom my earlier remarks 

 applied is practically as professional as the 

 man who rides for hire, except that he does not 

 take any pay. I have moreover known one or 

 two of his class turn professional jockeys and do 

 well. I doubt not that those who follow racing 

 closely will remember instances also. 



The amateur who rides in his Hunt Steeplechase 

 has generally a clever horse and he is generally, 

 though not always, a good horseman. But however 

 good a horseman he may be he will find that he 

 is in an entirely new country the moment he 

 puts on a silk jacket. A few notes to prepare 

 him for what he has to encounter may be of some 

 use. 



In the first place however hard a rider he may 



