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Methods of Schooling
Jumpers
Value of Hunting
Experience
Bj "FERNHILL"
rti this time ot the year there Is considerable
activity among the Jumpers.
They are the centre of Interest on the
training -tracks where
they
receive
their education.
Trainers of the old school are uot Impressed
with the methods now gencratl)
adopted in the making of Jumpers. The
idea was once firmly held that a young
horse Intended for cross-country work
could not be aent Into the field with
any safety until lie had been gWen the
en6flt of at leut 12 months' thorough
education at home.
Some of the raw
rocrulu - might take even looser
to
knock'Into shape.
This patience was
frequently
rewarded.
When the finished article was
turned out there was rarely any fear
of the fences.
The horse had been
taught to jump at all paces and from
all anglea.
He knew every point if
the game.
*
GOOD RES in/re
It was In this way that Grand National
winners were developed In the
old days. They were not asked for a
effort until they knew exactly
what to do. There were accidents eveji
then. but. considering the difficulty of
the country, mistake! were comparatively
lew.
Not many owners of the present
have to wait a year to see what
a young Jumper was made of, bu; it
might be to their ultimate profit If the
novices were given a litUe more time
so that they might learn step by iitei.
instead of having their lessons crowded
Into a (ew months.
Be that as it may. we must admit
that the methods now adopted often
show good results. It has l»en sal>l
that steeplechasers are now made In t
day. That Is. of course, exaggeration,
but It la remarkable bow quickly the
transformation from hurdles to fences
Is made.
Take Sandhurst This lime last year
the ^"b'rg chestnut was knoun principally
as a smart two-mller over
hurdles. Be bad also succeeded in a
brush steeplechase down-tho-llne. but
this could hardly have been considered
a preparation for Flemlngton. But.
sure enough, It led to headquarters
and the National.
NO TERRORS FOR HIM
Before the June meeting last year
Sandhurst saw the Flemlngton fences
for the flrst time. In a school over the
country the Baverstock gelding showed
that the obstacles bad no terrors for
him. In a week or so he won his first
race on the course, and a month later
came his much mora Important vie.
tory.
That was. quick work. -It looked In
the beginning somethfng like a rl*k to
ask so much of Sandhurst all at once,
but. his. trainer had no doubt • regarding
the Jumping ability of his charge,
and bis Judgment was fully vindicated.
Sandhurst became .the perfect
fencer. No horse, no matter how
long he had taken In the making,
could have done better.
, A quick change from hurdles to
fences did not prove such an Immediate
success In the case of Mountain
God, another. Grand Nationa
hero. .Taken from the battens, the
gelding started In a June Steeplechaw
at Ce^'flsW He na-alap-bans
Into
the
first obstacle and turned
over.
...
Then
followed an outing over the
big country at Flemlngton. Mountain
God got through safely thte Him.
and a few days later saddled for the
National.
He did not complete Die
course.
Profiting
by
this experience, lie
proved good enough to win the actional
a year later, and In the following
winter he was again successful
In the great cross-country event.
There
have
been
InnumexiW
other Instances of horses starting «
hurdlers and going on to achieve tut
highest fame over the big Umber.
RED LEAP AND BRIBERY
Redleap and Bribery may be mentioned.
Kedleap was to the fore
both the Grand National Hurdle ana
Steeplechase In the one season, bot
we know that the Mill Park wonder
was schooled over fences before Being
sent over hurdles.
In facU
nrst public appearance was made
a steeplechase at Caulfleld. «h, er v!
got rid of his rider owing to cloutl'i?
an obstacle.
It was the only blunder
In his career.
It
is generally
accepted that »
horse that will boldly tacHle hur41»
can also be* depended upon, witn s
little experience, to act well over rta
fences.
Hurdlers. In some cases. »'•'
take undue liberties tflth the stouter
Jumps, not knowing their ftrenpn.
Just as Mountain God did, but Hey
soon learn to pay more respect io
the obstacles.
,
,.„..
Hurdling experience
Is espeds"?
valuable for the 'chasers nowaday
when quick, clever Jumpins Is f0 ""
tentlal to success.
. „„r in
But there is always a danger «
coming back again to the batter*
There are Jumpers sufficiently
tile to be able to adapt themselvei
readily to all circumstances.
»•
saw this last year when Mosstrooper,
after several races with the
,
came back to his former game ana ,
on the Australian Hurdle.
The following Saturday he
the way home In the long
itotan"
steeplechase.
But "mixing It
proved
the
undoing
of
many
Jumper..
IN
OPEN
COUNTRY
Perhaps the best schooling ot
for a Jumper Is that obtained ln «
hunting Held.
It has been said tM'
if there Is any good In eitherJhe m«
or his horse It will be revealed l»
the open country.
.
There must be a greatJtal
«
truth In the statement; for many
»
riders and many -chase™ destined » j
become
celebrities
»> et » ee . n n
|
Bags" have been discovered In tun
'Took through the Grand
list, and It will be seen that »ve™
jumpera who helped to P 111 ", 0 ™^
country history «r»d«ated »mow
the hunters. A «a.on.hunt!mg » j
der capable pilotage » W ' • i
way In the education of the fen«^ 4|
It will make hta . ^ . " ^ titf]
l resourceful. Overground^ j
not been prepwed llk« ''^dj
chase courses the hunter i
weight cannot afford to os
The Canlfirif trainer, H. Gsbell, sad three of fail jumpers. On the left Is Tresolttu, a promising yoonf bardie racer. National winner, U in tfaa c*ntr«^.»itd C*Uirt U a* tb^rildv 8utdbni«t, iait year'* Help
The Canlfirif trainer, H. Gsbell, sad three of fail jumpers. On the left Is Tresolttu, a promising yoonf bardie racer.
National winner, U in tfaa c*ntr«^.»itd C*Uirt U a* tb^rildv
8utdbni«t, iait year'*
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