Women in the Field. 85 



before being sent to the field, a good timber top- 

 per does not necessarily mean a stone fence or 

 brook jumper. 



Many of the accidents encountered in the field 

 occur in the break away, before the field becomes 

 ''strung out," when the fox breaks covert, and 

 the signal is given to "away." A woman should 

 keep her wits about her, and take her time in get- 

 ting position, allowing the madcaps and the hot- 

 heads to have the first fence or gate to them- 

 selves. It is seldom the first away are the first 

 in at the death. If in doubt as to the landing 

 side, do not hesitate to jog up to the fence and 

 take a look, provided there is no one close be- 

 hind you, turn and go back far enough to enable 

 your horse to get well upon his stride before "put- 

 ting him." Remember a careful, cautious rider is 

 always more welcome in the field than a wild, in- 

 competent one. Should your mount show the 

 least inclination to rear, when refusing to jump, 

 never mount him again. Of all vices, this is the 

 most dangerous to women, and should never be 

 tolerated. 



While a woman should not confine herself to 

 any one horse, especially while a novice, she 

 should never attempt a jump she is not certain 

 her mount can negotiate. Many an ambitious, 

 over-sanguine young woman has come to grief 

 over this, as have others in going at a jump in a 

 half-hearted, irresolute manner. 



