GETTING WELL AWAY. 131 



impunity, because the rider sits quietly and appears to 

 trust to his honour, for although all horses know when 

 their rider funks, some of them often seem to assume that 

 he does so when such is not really the case. Most horses 

 jump best when they are steadied a little, say about forty 

 or fifty yards from their fences, and are then allowed to go 

 their own pace at them. I am, of course, here referring 

 to steeplechasing, and not about crossing country on 

 occasions when the horseman can take his own time. 



The horse's head should never be let loose, while an 

 extra pull should be taken on the reins, when going 

 through heavy ground, so as to make him shorten his 

 stride. 



The rider should endeavour, as a rule, to get away 

 in front for the first couple of fences. He will thus 

 avoid being jostled, or " carried out," by any determined 

 refusers which may happen to start ; he will also have a 

 clear view of his country, instead of its being obscured 

 by a crowd in front of him. As the first two or three 

 fences are generally low and easy, there is little risk in 

 racing at them on a fresh horse, which, if he has any 

 pretensions to the name of a steeplechaser, ought to 

 permit this small liberty to be taken with him. When 

 the rider finds his road is clear, he may settle down and 



K 2 



