80 DURATION OF WORK. 



when he should be put through the same ordeal as 

 before ; and if he perform creditably, he should be 

 forthwith put into training the same as for flat racing 

 having two brushing gallops during the week, and 

 varying the work on alternate days by going over 

 eight or nine gorsed hurdles in his gallop. He will 

 require this training for four weeks, when he may be 

 safely entered for a steeplechase. 



It will thus be seen that with care, attention, and 

 opportunities, three months are sufficient to prepare 

 an untried horse to run in a steeplechase. 



The training of the steeplechase horse, who knows 

 his business, should be different from this ; for it would 

 be a needless risk to hunt him, since a horse can but 

 know his business, and knowing it, should be put over 

 fences which are not likely to cause any injury, such as 

 bangs, cuts, stakes, &c. A gallop once a fortnight 

 over gorsed hurdles is all the jumping he will require ; 

 and in every way, with this exception, he should be 

 prepared the same as for a flat race. 



As to the distance of ground over which a steeple- 

 chaser should be put, there will always be a variety of 

 opinions ; but I am persuaded that they must have 

 long gallops, both for the sake of their muscles and 

 wind, for no horse, unless his muscles and respiratory 

 organs have been well prepared, can by any possibility 

 be expected to perform successfully in a steeplechase. 

 The concussions, &c., from jumping are so severe, that 

 he would soon be hors de combat, unless his joints, 

 muscles, and organs of respiration had received a 



