TOD SLOAN 



Just another reference to spurs. When first success 

 began to come my way they were put aside altogether. 

 Some owners and trainers have come to me saying, 

 " You must use spurs on this horse ; he's a very sluggish 

 animal and you won't get him along unless you do 

 wear them." In these instances I have made the in- 

 variable and polite answer : " I'm afraid you will have 

 to get someone else if you insist upon the spur business, 

 but why not let me try my best without them ? " 



Just another word too about the " crouch " seat or 

 " riding short " which I have heard so much discussed. 

 This is rather an important matter in connection with 

 the " revolution " in race-riding of, say, twenty years 

 ago. It is a great mistake to think that some of us 

 rode short ; in fact it is a misconception altogether. 

 In walking and cantering my stirrups were frequently 

 as long, in fact nearly always, as the old school of 

 English race riders. \^^ien breaking into a canter it 

 was often the same, but once a race had begun, and 

 by the strength of legs the " crouch " assumed, there 

 would be an immediate difference in the action of a 

 horse and his speed. Since then others have quite 

 shortened the stirrup — not with the best results. 

 That is why the term " riding short " came in. Hands 

 and brain have more to do with successful race riding 

 than anything else. 



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