84 RIDING RECOLLECTIONS. 



horse's withers, you make him bend his neck so much 

 as to contract his stride within three-quarter speed, 

 whereas when you carry them about the level of your 

 own hips, and nearly as far back, he has enough freedom 

 of head to extend himself without getting beyond your 

 control, and room besides to look about him, of which 

 be sure he will avail himself for your mutual advantage. 



I have ridden hunters that obviously found great 

 pleasure in watching hounds, and, except to measure 

 their fences, would never take their eyes off the pack 

 from field to field, so long as we could keep it in 

 sight. These animals too, were, invariably fine 

 jumpers, free, generous, light-hearted, and as wise as 

 they were bold. 



I heard a very superior performer once remark that 

 he not only rode every horse differently, but he rode the 

 same horse differently at every fence. 



All I can say is, he used to ride them all in the same 

 place, well up with the hounds, but I think I understand 

 what he meant. He had his system of course, like 

 every other master of the art, but it admitted of endless 

 variations according to circumstances and the exigencies 

 of the case. No man, I conclude, rides so fast at a 

 wall as a brook, though he takes equal pains with his 

 handling in both cases, if in a different way, nor would 



