10 How I Became a Sportsmax. 



kept him, as he, unlike his hopeful son, did 

 not much relish tumbling about. 



Rapid, when I first recollect him, was then, 

 I believe, about twelve years old^ and had 

 been sold for three hundred guineas when in 

 his prime. He was a blood bay, with three 

 black legs and one white heel, and without 

 speck or blemish ; but how he came into 

 my father's possession I cannot say, though 

 probably through the well-known Smart, the 

 dealer of Cricklade, as my father got most 

 of his horses through him. I think I must 

 have been about twelve years old when my 

 dear kind old father used to take me out 

 on the old horse and give me lessons, he 

 walking by the side. 



I was soon able to go out by myself, and 

 many were the jumps I had, larking the old 

 horse over the fences on the side of the road. 

 He was a perfect safety conveyance, and never 

 made a mistake ; but his rider did, for I well 

 recollect the first time I ever tried the jump- 

 ing business was over a nice little tempting- 

 looking rean (as they are called in Wiltshire 

 and Gloucestershire), or watercourse, on Box- 

 leigh Common. Now, this common was a 



