416 



STEEPLECHASING. 



great risk of coming to grief, with the off chance of jump- 

 ing on and perhaps killing his man. Besides, his animal 

 will not be able to see his fences properly if he has another 

 right in front of him. If the horse has a fine turn of speed, 

 but requires a lead, the rider may keep him thirty or forty 

 yards behind any clever fencer which is going fast enough. 



Fig. 252. Side view of I5th fence, at Old Distance Post. 



When a man is on a horse which he can trust, and is free 

 to take his own line, he should, within reasonable limits, 

 keep as close as he can to the inside flags, so as to save 

 ground. An inexperienced rider often loses a lot of distance 

 by needlessly avoiding the inside of the course. 



Unless the field is racing very fast, a jockey should 

 moderate his pace somewhat when going at high fences. Of 

 course he should go fast at water, so as to be able to clear 

 it with ease ; but he should be most careful to ride the horse 

 up to his bridle, and get his hind quarters well under him 



