326 HUNTERS. 



Moderation in the chace, and fteady at- 

 tention to the leading hounds, will conftantly 

 prevent confiderable difficulty to the rider, 

 as well as the horfe : this is a matter, 

 however, more '* devoutly to he willied,V 

 than at all to be exped:ed. It is equally 

 natural to conclude, that moft of thofe ad- 

 herents attached to and enjoying the chace, 

 would regulate the fpeed of their horfes 

 by the depth of the ground they go over^ 

 obfcrvation daily convinces us it is not fo, 

 and that there are very numerous excep- 

 tions to fuch necefTary and laudable circuriv 

 llances. 



Experience conftantly affords us derpon- 

 flrative proof, that nothing fo much ex« 

 haufts the bodily ftrength, reduces the 

 fpeed, and exhaufts the wind, as ftrong and 

 repeated leaps in any, but particularly in 

 deep countries : this refledion ought furely 

 to convince young or unthinking riders, 

 that fuperfluoiis leaps, and unnecelTary diffi- 

 culties, fhould never be boaftingly encoun- 

 tered, to difplay an affedtation of equeftrian 

 courage, or pragmatic confequence ; fqr 

 they immediately (in the mind of every pru- 

 dent 



