2i6 TRAINING IN INDIA 



not plenty of room when they are excited. After they 

 have once settled down, they are not so likely to run ont 

 or go crooked as they were at first. Besides this, some 

 are almost certain to " tail off." 



On the majority of Indian steeplechase courses, the 

 ground, for, say, 25 yds. in front of each obstacle, will 

 require to be watered in order to effectually lay the dust, 

 so that the horses behind the leaders may see what they 

 are required to leap. The landing side should be made 

 soft for about the same distance, so as to save the horses' 

 fore legs, and also to take the " bone " out of the ground 

 in case any of the animals fall. The opposite extreme 

 of making the ground deep and " holding " on landing 

 should be carefully avoided. Stiff and solid fences, such 

 as walls, should never be placed in a position which will 

 cause their shadow to fall on the taking-off side. In other 

 words, the horse which has to run in the afternoon should 

 meet no obstacle of this kind when going in a westerly 

 direction ; for if he does so, he will be apt to jump as if 

 the shadow represented a yawning drain, which, in such 

 cases, he probably thinks it is, and will then be liable to 

 strike the fence and come down. The terrible accident 

 which occurred at Dehra Doon to poor Jack Irving, who 

 was one of the best jockeys I have ever seen, and which 

 was ultimately the cause of his death, was caused in this 

 manner. The same rule should be observed with regard 

 to water-jumps ; for, as remarked by Mr. Short, " the sun 

 shining from the front on water is very dazzling to horses 

 coming up fast." 



The following are the usual kinds of fences met mth 

 on Indian steeplechase courses : — 



