Steeplechase Riding 209 



always settled down as soon as he liad got a 

 lead. After half a mile or so a child could 

 ride him. But the instructions were impera- 

 tive, and pulling his rider's arms out, fighting 

 like a very demon for his head, he fairly beat 

 both himself and his jockey, and lobbed in 

 an ignominious last. 



Do not let it be imagined for a moment 

 that I am saying anything against the broad 

 principle of a trainer or owner ordering how 

 his horse shall be ridden. I have far too 

 high an opinion of the average owner or 

 trainer to think that he is given to making 

 this sort of mistake. All I mean is to 

 point out the inexpediency or, at all events, 

 the risk of strictly tying down a coynpetent 

 jockey with cast-iron instructions, and espe- 

 cially where the rider knows the horse and 

 his peculiarities well. As to instructing the 

 average mannikin in flat racing, I suppose 

 that as most of them can neither hold a horse 

 nor ride one, it doesn't really much matter 

 whether you give them orders or not ! To 

 see Nature's most beautiful productions in 



