THE STEEPLECHASER 



nal to " go along " (as it was in racing days), and 

 takes an awkward hold of you ; he usually has one 

 side to his mouth; he "goes about" with the 

 deliberation of a line-of-battle ship, and needs as 

 much sea room ; he kicks up every pebble, and 

 stubs his toe on every straw and cigarette butt in 

 the road. All this he must give up ; and riding 

 him over all sorts of rough ground helps action and 

 agility, as suitable bitting and riding into his 

 bridle improves mouth and paces. Your gawky, 

 shambling, three or four year old learns deport- 

 ment quickly, and is vastly more adaptable to 

 changed conditions, because of superior intelli- 

 gence, than a colder-blooded horse. 



He should always be well bandaged when 

 schooling, and there should be no stubs nor any- 

 thing likely to scratch his thin skin in your school- 

 ing fences, and he should always go to the " left 

 about" over them, as all our 'chases are run that 

 way. He will prove most probably a " shy " 

 doer when he gets really into work, and his fickle 

 appetite must be tempted in the peculiar ways 

 that suit him best, and which only experience will 

 determine. At best the thoroughbred rarely eats 

 as much as other horses. He may love compan- 

 ionship, and to see other horses at all times in 



M 193 



