RIDING THE RACE. 



335 



may befriend him, and he may land safely over the last for the 

 run in, at the sacrifice of judgment. On the other hand, his 

 horse, galloped recklessly at the obstacle, may blunder ; and then 

 the follower who has refused to chance it, and who lands a 

 second or two later, but in good form, has all the advantage, for 

 his horse has not to be pulled together and set going again. 

 In the supreme exhilaration of the moment, therefore, the wise 

 man will not throw caution altogether aside. 



Jumping sideways. 



Then, unless the race be practically won at the last fence, 

 and there is nothing to do but sit still and canter home, comes 

 the question of finishing, a most important detail in the riding 

 of the race, and one of which an exceedingly small number 

 even of recognised and practised riders are really masters. 



A finish must in most cases be vigorous ; the man has to 

 ride hard ; nevertheless, it may be said that, as a general rule, 



