556 THE HORSE. 



the degree of teaching them to spell words of six syllables \ 

 Can nothing be allotted for relief to them during the trying 

 hours of destitution, when the failure of employment renders 

 them helpless and heart-broken, even though their dismissal 

 should have been merited, and for offences greater than fall- 

 ing from a dark-gray filly, or singing psalms with a leather- 

 breeches maker \ We do not think they would make the 

 worse grooms if some substitutes were provided for skittles, 

 cock-fighting, and halfpenny-roulette tables. The prospects 

 of this class, it is believed, are sufficiently melancholy. They 

 soon outgrow the light weight which is necessary for the ha- 

 bitual exercise of the Race-Horse. Their highest ambition 

 is to become jockeys ; but, in ninety-nine cases out of a hun- 

 dred, Nature refuses to limit their growing forms to the Lil- 

 liputian standard of 8 st. ; and a few only accordingly attain 

 the honours of jockey ship. 



The Jockeys, again, form a class of higher importance and 

 rank ; the success of the race mainly depending on the skill, 

 the coolness, and promptitude, with which they perform their 

 part. The jockey must be of small size, to suit the light 

 weight of the modern Turf, while he must possess the phy- 

 sical strength of limbs and body required for his dangerous 

 exercise. His seat on the saddle differs from that of the 

 ordinary horseman : he supports himself on his stirrups, and 

 by the pressure of his thighs and knees, and throws the 

 centre of gravity more forward than in ordinary riding, 

 grasping each bridle-rein, and holding his hands low upon 

 the withers. He rarely moves the position of his hands and 

 body, or if he does, it is imperceptibly, so as not to interfere 

 with the pace and stride of the horse. The instrument for 

 urging forward the horse is the spur, used according to the 

 emergency and the temper of the animal. The whip is held 

 in the right hand, only to be used when necessary at the final 

 set-to, or ultimate struggle, when the arms are raised, and 

 the position of the body changed, so as to produce a tem- 

 porary excitement in the horse. Not only does the jockey 



