24 RIDING RECOLLECTIONS. 



rise at a fence than a rail, and if unsuccessful in 

 clearing it a binder is less dangerous to flirt with 

 than a bar. Lord Wilton seems to me to ride at 

 timber a turn slower than usual, Lord Grey a turn faster. 

 Whether father and son differ in theory I am unable 

 to say, I can only affirm that both are undeniable 

 in practice. Mr. Fellowes of Shottisham, perhaps the 

 best of his day, and Mr. Gilmour, facile princeps, almost 

 walk up to this kind of leap; Colonel, now General 

 Pearson, known for so many seasons as "the flying 

 Captain," charges it like a squadron of Sikh cavalry , 

 Captain Arthur Smith pulls back to a trot ; Lord 

 Carington scarcely shortens the stride of his gallop. 

 Who shall decide between such professors ? Much 

 depends on circumstances, more perhaps on horses. 

 Assheton Smith used to throw the reins on a hunter's 

 neck when rising at a gate, and say, "Take care of 

 yourself, you brute ! " whereas the celebrated Lord 

 Jersey, who gave me this information of his old friend's 

 style, held his own bridle in a vice at such emergencies, 

 and both usually got safe over ! Perhaps the logical 

 deduction from these conflicting examples should be 

 not to jump timber at all! 



But the rash horse is by this time getting tired, 

 and now, if you would avoid a casualty, you must 



