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Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 153, 25 March 1925, Page 5

The standard of horsemanship in Victoria has recently com© in for criticism, and a suggestion was made with a view to improvement, that a school of instruction should bo established for young riders. The method suggested was that the V.R.C. should appoint a retired jockey of standing to take in hand for a term the apprentices for whom trainers desired permits to ride in races. Prospective jockeys would thus serve a sort of probationary period during winch faults could be corrected and the boys placed on a better footing to begin their careers. The- tuition, stage would not interfere with their, duties to employers. This idea was once under consideration in England, but for 8om» reason nothing cam® cf ii. Ser-

oral prominent Victoria trainers have expressed themselves in favour of the scheme, and it is possible it may ba nut into execution. Schooling of young riders under an efficient coach, would vo a long wav towards preventing th® interference which now takes place in races. There are exceptifiny,. but a perusal of the list of inquiries into interference and the penalties incurred during the last twelve months would reveal the fact that the delinquents are mostly apprentices, some with very little experience. Some hoys ar® natural riders, but all could learn useful lessons from a jockey who has been through the mill, and a great' deal of incompetence that is in evidence to-day could be removed by thdi being taken in hand. k