BUCK-JUMPING. 459 



backs on the ground, this kind of fall must be, as 

 Jorrocks would say, "a hawful thing." The great 

 difficulty in sitting a buck-jumper consists in keeping 

 the body from being jerked forward in the saddle, and 

 slackening the reins the moment the animal makes 

 a vicious downward snatch at them, by ducking his 

 head ; for if the rider hangs on to his head, he will pull 

 her forward by means of the reins, and she will be 

 unable to sit the buck which will follow. All confirmed 

 buck-jumpers look out for this opportunity whenever 

 the rider draws the reins tightly. Ladies who ride with 

 the right leg hooked back would not be able to sit 

 a buck-jumper ; for I found that the chief means which 

 prevented me from being thrown was the ability to lean 

 back, which the forward position of my right leg gave 

 me. When riding bad horses at my husband's classes, 

 I was able to see beforehand what special defence such 

 animals offered, and was, therefore, prepared to cope 

 with them ; but I have been taken unawares when 

 mounted on Australian horses which dealers in India 

 have lent me, when they have wanted to sell such 

 animals as having carried a lady. I remember one 

 very handsome Waler, which went like a lamb with me 

 until suddenly, when cantering quietly along, he took it 

 into his head to try and buck me off. He did his best 

 to accomplish his purpose, and was encouraged in his 

 efforts by my pith hat coming off and flopping about 

 my head. I wished the thing could have fallen, but it 

 was held by the elastic we wore our hair in plaits 

 at the nape of the neck in those days and I had 



