RIDING OVER FENCES. 



accomplished steeplechase rider trying a horse he was 

 to ride, in two or three days, over the course which was 

 to be " flagged out " for them. After negociating a few 

 fences cleverly, the horse, whether from jumping in 

 " cold blood," or from some reason of his own, baulked 

 at a small bank vv'ith a ditch in front of it. The rider 

 lost his temper, probably on account of the presence of 

 a few friends who had come to admire, and used whip 

 and spur when bringing him round, but he refused again 

 and would have nothing to say to the fence, although 

 his rider " cut him almost to ribbons." I need hardly 

 say that when the race came off, this horse refused at 

 the very same place and would go no further. I cannot 

 too strongly impress on my readers that a man should 

 never be drawn into a pitched battle with his mount 

 unless he is all but certain of victory. It is no matter 

 how strong and good a rider a man may be, he cannot, 

 when on his back, force him to jump a fence which the 

 animal has made up his mind to refuse. Many men 

 have an insane idea, if a horse baulks with them, that 

 they are bound to " have it out " with him and to fight 

 him to the bitter end, as if the refusal were a personal 

 challenge on the part of the horse, and that, if they do 

 not punish him severely for the supposed insult, their 



