334 THE HORSE 



there is often only one gap weak enough to allow of their getting over 

 avoid its proximity, and take a place at least a dozen yards off. 



Independently of hounds, every rider should take a line of his own, or 

 if he is unable to do this and must follow a leader, let him keep such a 

 distance beliind that if a fall takes place be can avoid jumping upon him. 

 In a large field of horsemen, every one cannot possibly take a different 

 line, nor is it easy to keep always at a safe distance ; but at big places 

 there is generally some hesitation, and a proper interval can be maintained. 

 No one should attempt to pass his neighbour either on the right or left 

 of the line he has chosen, when near a fence ; but of course this is not 

 to deprive him of his chance of taking the lead in the middle of a large 

 enclosure, when a little racing can do no harm. By the adoption of this 

 rule, jostling and crowding at a weak place are avoided, which without it 

 would be sure to lead to serious accidents. 



Use your judgment in saving your horse in deep ground, making up 

 for the apparent loss by putting him along whenever a sound headland or 

 good turf can be obtained. It is not going straight over sound land that 

 distresses a horse, but the making use of him over deep ground, and at 

 the wrong time. Many men seem to know no difference between sound 

 turf and rotten or wet arable, and will kick their horses along over high 

 ridge-and-furrow in a wet clay district, at a pace which no horse can bear 

 for more than a mile or two in such a country. A workman would look 

 out for headlands or footpaths, etc. ; and would, by a slight detour, gain 

 upon those who disdained to leave the line even for a few yards. Wet 

 and sticky ridge-and-furrow tires a horse dreadfully, and the consequence 

 is, that if he is pushed over it he speedily loses his powers and wind, and 

 falls in a very ugly way at the first fence he comes to of a size above the 

 average. Hence, every man who aspires to go well to hounds must learn 

 to be " a judge of pace," and should endeavour to make out the signs of 

 distress, and the best way of avoiding it. So much depends upon condition 

 and breeding, that it is very difficult for a man with a strange horse to 

 know what liberties he may take with him. Some well-bred ones will be 

 blown, yet if nursed they will come again and again, while the dunghill 

 animal will give up when once he has lost his wind, and is gone for that 

 day at least. In ascending steep banks, a careful and active horseman 

 will dismount and lead his horse up, and by so doing often gains a mile or 

 two upon his less humane and cautious antagonist. In ascending hills it 

 is often expedient to make a zigzag ; but in descending you can never go 

 too straight, as the opposite course often leads to a dangerous slip on the 

 side, with a crushed knee or ankle as a consequence. Few horses fall 

 forwards, and they always manage to save themselves by slipping down on 

 their haunches. This is a point of great importance, and should always be 

 strictly attended to. 



There are two general directions, which Avill serve for almost all 

 descriptions of fence. These are, that if a height is to be overcome, the 

 horse should be taken slowly up to it, in a collected manner, with his 

 haunches well under him. On the other hand, width requires impetus, and 

 the pace should be forced during the last few strides up to a very high 

 rate. Under the former head may be classed timber (in all the varieties 

 of gates, single posts-and-rails, stiles, and palings), walls, strong pleached 



