290 HORSEMANSHIP. 



tarj and parade horses are ridden in spurs ; and, 

 as we have already said, they are very useful to 

 the sportsman in riding across a country, particu- 

 larly in the act of opening gates ; also all race- 

 horses that will bear them are ridden with them, 

 because, should punishment be wanting in a race, 

 it is more easily inflicted by the heel than by the 

 hand ; add to which, these horses not only require 

 the jockey's two hands at the same time, but are 

 apt to swerve, or shut up, if struck severely by the 

 whip. 



Race-Riding, or Jockeyship. — Race-riding and 

 riding over a country cannot be called sister arts. 

 Indeed the former bears little relation to any other 

 system of horsemanship, because, from the rapidity 

 with which the race-horse gets over the ground, 

 there is neither time nor necessity for a display of 

 the various aids which it is in the horseman's power 

 to afford to his horse in most other cases. Never- 

 theless, the very refinement of the art, the nice 

 and delicate hand, together with a firm and strong 

 seat, is absolutely essential to a good jockey. 

 Neither is this all. He must possess a stout heart 

 and a clear head. 



Something like jockeyship was practised in very 

 early times, the Greeks having introduced it at 

 their celebrated games. In the 33d Olympiad they 

 had their race of full-aged horses. In the 7Jst 

 Olympiad they instituted that for mares called the 

 Calpe, bearing a resemblance to our Oaks Stakes 

 at Epsom ; and an interesting anecdote is handed 



