56 RIDING RECOLLECTIONS. 



not from cowardice, temper, nor incapacity, but only 

 from the influence of an education based on principles 

 contrary to common sense. 



The great art of horsemanship, then, is to find out 

 what the animal requires of us, and to meet its wishes, 

 even its prejudices, half-way. Cool with the rash, and 

 daring with the cautious, it is wise to retain the sem- 

 blance, at least, of a self-possession superior to casual- 

 ties, and equal to any emergency, from a refusal to a 

 fall. Though " give and take " is the very first principle 

 of handling, too sudden a variation of pressure has a 

 tendency to confuse and flurry a hunter, whether in 

 the gallop or when collecting itself for the leap. If 

 you have been holding a horse hard by the head, to 

 let him go in the last stride is very apt to make him 

 run into his fence ; while, if you have been riding with 

 a light hand and loosened rein, a "chuck under the 

 chin" at an inopportune moment distracts his attention, 

 and causes him to drop short. " How did you get your 

 fall ? " is a common question in the hunting-field. If 

 the partner at one end of the bridle could speak, how 

 often would he answer, "Through bad riding;" when 

 the partner at the other dishonestly replies, " The brute 

 didn't jump high enough, or far enough, that was all." 

 It is well for the most brilliant reputations that the 



