306 HORSEMANSHIP. 



with which leg the race-horse leads, at least, such 

 was the opinion of the late Samuel Chifney. 



Our remarks on the art of race-riding may be 

 concluded by stating the manner in which horses 

 of various tempers, dispositions, and capabilities, 

 are to be ridden, with the best chance of being 

 made the most of. Nine racers in ten are free- 

 going ones, if not hard pullers. On one of this 

 description, the great art of the jockey is to econo- 

 mise his powers according to the length he has to 

 go, as also the weight he is carrying, so as not to 

 let him overmark himself, and have little or nothing 

 left in him at the finish. If other horses make 

 running, this can only be done by his sitting per- 

 fectly still in his seat, dropping his hands, and 

 havino^ oood hold of his horse's head. The less he 

 interferes with his mouth the better ; and if he 

 likes to be well up with the other horses, he is bet- 

 ter there, supposing him not to be a regular jade, 

 than pulled at, to be kept back. Temper is a great 

 thing in this case — we mean in the jockey ; for a 

 hasty horse and a hasty rider are sure to disgrace 

 themselves. Every unnecessary movement in the 

 one is instantly responded to by the other, who 

 becomes flurried, and pulls more determinedly than 

 he did before. 



The lazy, sluggish, or " craving'' horse, as 

 trainers call him, requires riding from end to end 

 of his race. By this we mean, that although the 

 body of his jockey should not move, he is often 

 obliged to raise his hands off" his horse's withers, 

 to shake him now and then ; as well as to use his 



