CHAPTER VIII 



STEEPLECHASE COURSES 



In order to faiiiy test the jumping as well as the gallop- 

 ing capabilities of horses, the fences ought not, on an 

 average, to be further apart from each other than 400 yds. 

 As remarked by that brilliant horseman Mr. Bertie Short, 

 the first thhxl of the course should consist of broad, low, 

 and somewhat easy obstacles, which would not be liable 

 to bring disaster on the competitors before they had settled 

 down to their work. The fences in the middle thii^d 

 should be such as to thoroughly test the jumping powers 

 of the animals, so that the gallopers may not have it all 

 their own way ; and those in the final third should become 

 gradually more and more easy towards the finish, so that 

 they may not be likely to bring down a tired horse which 

 may happen to chance them a little. I may remark that 

 such an arrangement can seldom be carried out in its 

 entirety, although we may preserve its general character 

 on a more or less circular line of country. Thus, suppos- 

 ing the course is 2 miles round, we may, to get 3 miles, 

 make one half easy, the other stiff, the first and final miles 

 being over the same ground. The fences should be as 

 long as possible, especially the first and second, as very 

 dangerous accidents are liable to occur if the horses have 



