582 A FEW STABLE HINTS. 



except in case of rearing he will be in a better position to 

 meet what may be coming. 



If you have to face a fall, double your head under your 

 shoulders, and alight on the back of your shoulder if you 

 can't pitch on your feet. Hang on to the reins unless your 

 horse falls too. Then keep clear of him. He will not get 

 up as quickly as you can if you are not hurt. If you are 

 hurt, it does not matter where he goes. There is a great 

 knack in falling. I may say that I have been riding all 

 sorts of horses for over half a century, and have had number- 

 less falls under all sorts of conditions, and I have never yet 

 broken a limb. Sprains, bruises, cuts, and wounds must be 

 taken as they come, and even broken collar bone. 



Do what he may, never lose your temper with him, or 

 mess him about till he does n't know what you want, and 

 you don't know yourself. His faculties become benumbed. 

 He is aware that his rider is behaving unreasonably, and 

 loses confidence in him. 



There are a thousand other things to know and to do ; 

 but the trouble is, that when a man knows the majority of 

 them, he is drawing very near the end of his riding days. 

 Nothing, however, is so likely to lengthen his days as per- 

 sistence in equestrian exercise. 



A FEW STABLE HINTS. 



If during your ride you put up at an inn where there are 

 no pillar-reins, take off the bridle at once, for the horse will 

 not lose a moment in rubbing it along the edge of the 

 manger, to the detriment of covered buckles. Slide your 

 stirrups up on the leathers, slacken the girths, and jerk the 

 saddle up and down quickly for a minute or two, but don't 



