262 EACECOURSE AND COVERT SIDE. 



make a sudden effort, and the great thing is to 

 see if one or two strokes will not do it in the 

 last three strides. A horse can tell, too, when 

 you want him to make the final effort, and if 

 he's game and fit, and you are doing your best 

 for him, he'll go with you." 



Olding, trotting up for directions, puts an 

 end to the conversation, and most of the young 

 ones are sent home, while three or four are 

 directed to canter again ; for while talking, the 

 master's eyes have been noting attentively all 

 that is going forward. 



*' Lots of horses," Cannon resumes, watching 

 a handsome filly who goes along gaily, but, on 

 the whole, steadily enough, ''are spoilt by being 

 badly bitted. That filly is an example. Nothing 

 could hold her. When she came out she used 

 to run all over the downs like a wolf just escaped 

 from a menagerie. She had some dreadfully 

 severe bits when she arrived, but I tried her in 

 a plain snaffle, and as she did not seem to like 

 that, I had a bit made of wood with some india- 

 rubber rolled round. Now, you see, she goes as 

 steadily as possible, barring an occasional kick 

 or so ; " and as he speaks up goes the filly's heels, 

 as if to show she has not forgotten the art in 

 question, but she makes no attempt to get away ; 

 and so the last division speed along up the hill, 



