THE STEEPLECHASER 



If every thoroughbred yearling were broken to 

 harness, and exercised "in leather," as a general 

 thing it is quite sure that there would be better 

 results, and that they would keep sound longer. 

 For one thing they would be vastly better mouthed 

 and mannered, because they would be handled by 

 men, and not by mischievous boys ; for another, 

 because they would be kept on the roads, and 

 away from the deadly monotony of eternal track 

 and shed work ; for a third, because they would 

 do their work more calmly and collectedly, and 

 would use different sets of muscles ; for a fourth, 

 because they are more salable afterwards (and a 

 thoroughbred's road-horse qualities, though first 

 class, are totally ignored) ; and, for lots of other 

 reasons, every venture in this line has proved 

 highly successful. Horses hold their flesh much 

 better — important in this trying climate — and 

 steeplechasers as a general thing need vastly more 

 flesh than they are allowed to carry, and are more 

 often too light than the reverse. 



With plenty of hill and road work, a cross- 

 country horse needs very few fast gallops over a 

 distance of ground. A few spins at four furlongs 

 or so, to make sure he has his speed on edge, is 

 enough, unless he is a very gross horse ; and if he 



^95 



