" GOOD NIGHT GOOD NIGHT, AND IS IT SO?" 149 



horses blown I will allow, but not worn out by fatigue. 

 Here real jockeyship is available: the horse has some- 

 thing left in him for the jockey to have recourse to, 

 and head and hands are of importance. A consider- 

 able portion of judgment and knowledge of a horse's 

 particular powers are quite requisite in a steeple-race: 

 numbers of those who do ride think little about this ; 

 consequently, they would be beat on very superior 

 horses by first-rate riders on bad ones. Some horses, 

 for instance, have extraordinary powers throug hdirt. 

 I have generally found such horses go well up and 

 down hill. At this game they will go a pace that 

 would choke many others. These horses can generally 

 go nearly the same pace from end to end ; whereas 

 in deep soil the more brilliant and faster horse has to 

 be nursed, and must trust to speed when he gets 011 

 galloping ground. Some horses require driving at 

 their fences ; others, holding hard : some like to go at 

 them, and will do so, in spite of you, like a steam- 

 engine ; others would be frightened if rode at them 

 in this way : some horses, like old Vivian, will jump 

 though dead tired : others will only do so (with any 

 safety) when quite fresh (and mighty pleasant animals 

 the latter are to ride four miles). Many horses, if a 

 little blown, by taking a pull at them will recover, while 

 others will not, but, if once distressed, put on their 

 night-caps, and desire you to " call on them to-mor- 

 row." Geldings I have generally found recover wind 

 sooner than stallions; that is, when in hunting condi- 

 tion : when drawn fine as race-horses, the difference 

 between them is trifling, if any. All these things 

 must be, and are, attended to when we put a first- 

 rate man up to ride. He has a certain stock of animal 

 power given him at starting, and his good judgment 



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