Spain 175 



to take your place, for there may be a scrimmage at the 

 jump, and you will probably be able to steer clear of it." 

 Such advice was good, sound common sense, and founded 

 on great experience. 



On this occasion, however, there was one of the most 

 dangerous " fields " in which any one can be called to ride. 

 There were a number of youthful jockeys, quite unaccus- 

 tomed to riding races of any kind, and with no practice at 

 jumping fences at speed. They were highly excited, and 

 mounted on horses as inexperienced as themselves in 

 fencing at a fast pace. When horse and jockey are alike 

 ignorant, they become a very dangerous pair, for the man 

 never remembers that there is any one else in the race 

 besides himself, and treats a fence as if it was as wide as 

 a field when hunting. He will change the spot he has 

 selected to jump half a dozen times before he reaches 

 the fence, and every time he alters his mind, he crosses 

 others, and throws them out of their stride. His hesitat- 

 ing style is certain to communicate itself to his " mount," 

 which alters its pace, and this again upsets the horses 

 immediately behind, who probably get over with a 

 scramble, even if they avoid a collision. When travelling 

 with the velocity of an express train — and this is the rate 

 at which the fences are jumped — a very slight slackening 

 of speed in front causes great confusion behind. In a 

 small way this is shown by watching a column of troops 

 on the march along a road. A very slight check to the 

 leading " fours " rapidly augments as it affects those 

 following ; andlong before it has reached the middle of the 

 column, the men are brought to a complete halt. 



Horses that have not been well schooled to jump at a 

 fast pace, and in close company, also add to the risks 



