THE STEEPLECHASER 



velops and comes to his full powers much later ; 

 he is dearer to buy; he eats (or let's hope he 

 does) more than the " little un ; " he weighs 

 more when he rolls over you ; he has everything 

 against him, and nothing in his favor, except the 

 fact that he " looks the part ; " but how many 

 failures do that, and how many " cracks " do not ? 



These characteristics an embryo 'chaser must 

 have : he must gallop rather high ; he must flex 

 his hocks ; he should have a fairly good shoulder ; 

 and that extra length in back, and freedom in loin 

 which is so generally decried and rejected, and 

 without which no horse has the requisite liberty 

 and length to properly " use himself" at the 

 task. Long below and short above is all very 

 well, but get the length, anyway. 



With a long hill (the longer and steeper the 

 better), a fence, and a ditch you can condition any 

 horse that is passing sound, and if he hath in- 

 firmities the more does this afford appropriate 

 environment. Trot up and walk back ; canter 

 up and walk down ; thighs, loins, all the jumping 

 and galloping muscles developing at every stride, 

 and wind and heart gaining strength steadily. 

 Take a horse, so trained, to one of our steeple- 

 chase courses and he will show a performance un- 



i8s 



