DISCRETION. 133 



fidential resources. If not pulled about, and interfered 

 with, a hunter that understands his business leaps this 

 kind of fence, so long as he is fresh, with ease to him- 

 self and security to his rider. He sees exactly what he 

 has to do, and need not rise an inch higher, nor fling 

 himself an inch farther than is absolutely necessary, 

 whereas a hedge induces him to make such exertions 

 as may cover the uncertainty it conceals. But, on the 

 other hand, the binder will usually bear tampering with, 

 which the bar will not, therefore if your own courage 

 and your horse's skill tempt you to negotiate rails, stiles, 

 or even a gate and this last is very good form sound 

 discretion warns you to select the first ten or fifteen 

 minutes of a run for such exhibitions, but to avoid them 

 religiously, when the deep ground and the pace have 

 begun to tell. 



Assheton Smith himself, though he scouted the idea 

 of ever turning from anything, had in so far the 

 instinct of self-preservation, that when he thought his 

 horse likely to fall over such an obstacle, he put him at 

 it somewhat a-slant, so that the animal should get at 

 least one fore-leg clear, and tumble on to its side, when 

 this accomplished rider was pretty sure to rise unhurt 

 with the reins in his hand* 



Now this diagonal style of jumping, judiciously 



