282 ON THE PULL AND HUSTLE. 



are checked, to display their abilities in this way by prac- 

 tising this sort of riding in concluding the gallops and 

 sweats, with horses which by no means require to be 

 thus treated. These are precautions and instructions 

 which I think it is necessary grooms should give their 

 boys, with a view of bringing them to ride properly 

 and agreeably to their orders. The directions I have 

 here laid down, are such as I myself received when a 

 boy. It is the different orders daily given by experi- 

 enced training grooms how various horses are to be 

 rode in their gallops and sweats, that instil into the 

 minds of the boys who are riding them, the practical 

 knowledge of good riding. It is not riding a race now 

 and then that will make either a boy or a man a good 

 jockey, or many gentlemen would become very excel- 

 lent riders. 



An exercise boy, when put up to ride in a race (unless 

 the groom is a bad judge) is, in all probability, as good 

 a rider as he ever will be ; and for the horse he is going 

 to ride, he may be, with very few exceptions, equal to 

 any jockey in the race. I shall take a more favourable 

 opportunity than is offered at the conclusion of the 

 present chapter, of making some few remarks upon 

 those who form these few exceptions. 



