124 HORSE MANAGEMENT IN INDIA 



fairly beats on his merits others which could "■ lose " him 

 on the flat, even when they do not make a "mistake." 

 That famous chaser, the Lamb, was a case in point; for 

 in the Grand National he easily defeated Pearl Diver, 

 who was at least 2 st. better than him on an ordinary 

 racecourse. By learning young, the jumping muscles are 

 stimulated during the special period of development, and 

 the action itself becomes almost automatic, and, con- 

 sequently, as nearly perfect as possible. When the art 

 is acquh-ed later on, the effort will be more or less 

 laboured, and the muscles may be inadequate in strength 

 for this new kind of labour. Of course, there are excep- 

 tions to this rule, one of the most notable being Volup- 

 tuary, who, as a six-year-old, won the Grand National of 

 1884. This son of Cremorne and Miss Evelyn was kept, 

 till he was five years old, on the flat, where he performed 

 very indifferently. He was then taken in hand by that 

 accomplished horseman, Mr. E. P. Wilson, who soon 

 taught him to negotiate the Aintree style of country, 

 and won on his pupil with great ease. The Liverpool 

 fences are all of a " flying " sort, and consist chiefly of 

 hedges with a ditch on the taking-off or landing side. 

 Being of a uniform character, they do not demand the 

 same amount of cleverness that is required in a more 

 cramped country. Besides, almost all the Cremomes 

 are natural jumpers. I am aware that it is a very 

 common idea among racing men both in England and in 

 India, that the way to obtain a good maiden chaser is to 

 pick up a horse that has shown his ability to gallop, stay, 

 and carry weight on the flat, and to teach him to jump. 

 Following the opinion of the best judges on the subject 



