176 The Course, the Camp, the Chase 



inseparable from steeplechasing, for unless they have been 

 taught by an expert they try to stop their pace in the last 

 few strides, and to lob over in the sticky way they 

 have generally been accustomed to when hunting. One of 

 the most dangerous mounts, as a rule, is a well-trained 

 hunter that has not been ridden in a " grass " country, 

 and has had no schooling for steeplechasing. He may be 

 a most safe conveyance, if allowed to jump the fences in 

 the careful way that he has been accustomed to. When 

 asked to take them at his best pace he gets flustered, tries 

 to steady himself, and generally ends by taking off either 

 too soon or half a stride too late, and the result either 

 way is the same if the fence is stiff. A bold, raw, natural 

 jumper, with an experienced capable jockey on his back, is 

 often a far safer mount than the steady hunter. 



At the same time I do not want for one moment to 

 decry the usefulness of the hunting field, in training steeple- 

 chase horses. On the contrary, I have the very highest 

 opinion of its value, but then it must be supplemented by 

 plenty of practice over steeplechase fences at a racing pace. 

 In the hunting field they learn to jump all sorts of 

 obstacles in all sorts of ground, and to rise at them when 

 they are tired. They learn, too, to gallop in deep ground 

 carrying a heavy weight, and not to " shut up " when leg- 

 weary, for the excitement of the chase inspirits them to 

 bear fatigue just as it does the riders. A horse should be 

 perfect in jumping fences slowly before he is ever asked to 

 go fast at them, for we all have to learn to walk before we 

 can run. A steeplechase horse that began his education 

 in the hunting field and perfected it over galloping fences 

 is one of the safest mounts, that a jockey can have, for he 

 is never at a loss and can scarcely be trapped. 



