GRAND NATIONAL FENCES. 



419 



into one ; and having him there may, also, prevent one's own 

 horse refusing if he be that way inclined. 



Stirrup leathers for riding across country should generally 

 be a hole or two shorter than for ordinary riding. 



Many of the remarks I have made on flat race riding, also 

 apply to chasing. 



Fig. 256. ist and ijth fence (taking-off side) after race. 



GRAND NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE COURSE. 



The following description of this course (Fig. 245), which 

 is the best example of its kind in England, may prove useful 

 to riders and trainers of 'cross country horses. 



The course, which is a left-handed one, is about 2 1 ^ miles 

 round, is very nearly level, and is all grass, with the exception 

 of about 225 yards of light plough between the third and 

 fourth jumps. The soil is sand with a thin covering of mould. 

 The fences are about 21 yards broad, and consist of thorn 

 hedges built up with furze or fir twigs, and supplemented in 



27* 



