66 FLAT-RACTNCr EXPLAINED. 



A linrd-pnlling horse, by the process of **wait- 

 ing," would lose about ten inches per stride. I have 

 seen them lose much more than this, but I think 

 ten inches may be reckoned a fair average. -H 



I have said in a previous chapter that Sloan's 

 method of riding was "riding to time," or, in the 

 words of Lord Durham, "to cover the allotted dis- 

 tance of ground in the shortest time." That this is 

 correct in principle there cannot be any doubt, and 

 for two very important reasons. In the first place, 

 it obviates all chance of "waste of energy" in the 

 horse; while in the second it enables every atom of 

 physical strength a horse has got within him to be 

 utilized to the utmost possible advantage. Riding 

 to "time" is essentially a steady rate of progression 

 at high, as distinguished from excessive, speed 

 from start to finish. 



As far as it is possible, a horse should be ridden 

 with an evenness and regularity, which perhaps 

 may be best described, or explained by way of illus- 

 tration, as an arrow or bullet travels through the 

 air. When, however, a horse is a hard puller, as 

 very many are, he should under no circumstances, 

 provided there is plenty of room and he is not at 

 the heels of another horse, be hard held or pulled 

 and hauled about. 



At high, or indeed at excessive, speed, should 

 the horse of himself have set it, he should be al- 



