The Gentleman! s Seat. 81 



of will of an accomplished rider, especially when 

 both are stimulated by excitement, I may be 

 committing myself to a theory which many will 

 dispute, and some will deem absurd. Neverthe- 

 less, I am convinced that such is really the case ; 

 and, I venture to confidently affirm, that, other 

 things being equal, the jockey who possesses the 

 greatest quantity of nerve or will-power will be 

 the most successful in his profession. He 

 will, in consequence of his superiority in this 

 respect, do greater things with a horse than those 

 of less nerve force. 



The action of this force upon the horse 

 corresponds, in a measure, to the external stimuli, 

 under which human beings are known to exert 

 far more strength than they are capable of putting 

 forth of their own free will. It is said that the 



