592 HISTORY OF THE 



run the slower, and jade the sooner for the want 

 of it. 



" The phrase at Newmarket is, that you should 

 pull your horse to ease him in his running. When 

 horses are in their great distress in running, they 

 cannot bear that visible manner of pulling, as 

 looked for by many of the sportsmen ; he should 

 be enticed to ease himself an inch a-time, as his 

 situation will allow. 



" This should be done as if you had a silken 

 rein as fine as a hair, and that you were afraid of 

 breaking it. 



" This is the most true way a horse should be 

 held fast in his running.'^ 



It appears sufficiently plain by this explanation, 

 that Chifney never intended to advocate any thing 

 so palpably ridiculous as riding a race wdth a 

 loose rein, but rather a steady but easy hold of a 

 horse's mouth, sufficient to keep him straight, to 

 prevent his overpacing himself, but not so tight 

 as to throw the horse out of his stride, or occasion 

 the other mischiefs he mentions ; and we find the 

 same practice recommended by Mr. Darvill, only in 

 better and more distinct language.* 



* " 'J'he method adopted by a good riding-boy, head lad, or jockey, 

 in holding a horse after he has started in his gallop, is by putting his 

 hands well down on each side of the horse's withers. By this firm 

 purchase, he is mostly enabled to keep his horse's head up and in place ; 

 for, if in the start, the horse gets his head down, he will, if he feels 

 inchned to do so, most probably break away, or begin his gambols, 

 and, perhaps, throw his rider. Yet it is not to be understood that the 



