THE STEEPLECHASER 



velops and comes to his full powers much later ; 

 he is dearer to buy; he eats (or let's hope he 

 does) more than the " little un ; " he weighs 

 more when he rolls over you ; he has everything 

 against him, and nothing in his favor, except the 

 fact that he " looks the part ; " but how many 

 failures do that, and how many " cracks " do not ? 



These characteristics an embryo 'chaser must 

 have : he must gallop rather high ; he must flex 

 his hocks ; he should have a fairly good shoulder ; 

 and that extra length in back, and freedom in loin 

 which is so generally decried and rejected, and 

 without which no horse has the requisite liberty 

 and length to properly "use himself" at the 

 task. Long below and short above is all very 

 well, but get the length, anyway. 



With a long hill (the longer and steeper the 

 better), a fence, and a ditch you can condition any 

 horse that is passing sound, and if he hath in- 

 firmities the more does this afford appropriate 

 environment. Trot up and walk back ; canter 

 up and walk down ; thighs, loins, all the jumping 

 and galloping muscles developing at every stride, 

 and wind and heart gaining strength steadily. 

 Take a horse, so trained, to one of our steeple- 

 chase courses and he will show a performance un- 



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