304? HORSEMANSHIP. 



happen) with his left hand, as well as with his 

 right, in case of his losing what is called the whip- 

 hand, or being pressed upon bj the other horses in 

 the race, when he cannot use his right. 



The nature and form of race-courses are points 

 very much to be considered in jockeyship. Such 

 as are quite flat and straight are, of course, the 

 least difficult to ride over ; but a little variety of 

 ground is favourable to the horse, and not unplea- 

 sant to the jockey. Those which are hilly require 

 much judgment to know where to make the best 

 play ; or, in other words, what part of the ground 

 is best suited to the action and nature of the horse. 

 All horses, however, require holding hard by the 

 head both up and down hills, or they will soon run 

 themselves to a stand-still. A small ascent is de- 

 sirable to finish a race upon, as it is safer for the 

 riders, who occasionally lose their horses' heads in 

 the last few strides ; and also in pulling them up, 

 when they are often in an exhausted state, and, 

 consequently, liable to fall or slip on uneven ground, 

 especially if it be in a slippery state from drought 

 or wet. Most country courses have turns in them, 

 which must be provided against in two ways. First, 

 the jockey, at starting, should endeavour to get the 

 whip-hand of his competitors ; that is, he should 

 try to be on the right side of the other horses, if 

 the posts are on his right hand, and on the left 

 side of them, if they are on the left. He will, of 

 course, in this case, have to describe a smaller 

 circle of ground in his race than the other horses 

 will have, and also, if the turns be on his right, 



