RIDING TO HOUNDS 245 



ditch, in an ungainly heap, two broken ribs 

 being the result. 



There was further reason to remember that 

 day, for being near the end of the run it seemed 

 as well to see it finished before going home, and 

 the hounds checking directly afterwards, the writer 

 happened to look at the thatched roof of a cottage, 

 and there was the fox looking down upon the 

 busy scene around him. 



The old " double " at Punchestown is so well 

 known that it may be interesting to many to know 

 the exact dimensions ; they are therefore given 

 as they existed when the writer won the Conyng- 

 ham Cup with Belmont ; and probably there has 

 been little alteration in them since. It may be 

 pointed out that the bank in the " new double " 

 — as it was then termed — in the Conyngham Cup 

 course, was considerably higher, but being out of 

 sight of the stands was not nearly so well known. 



Ditch on take-off side 6 ft. 6 in. wide, 3 ft. deep. 



Height of bank above the take-off 2 ft. 8 in. 



Height of bank above the landing 4 ft. 



Width of bank on the top ... 6 ft. 6 in. 



Ditch on the landing side ... 4 ft. wide. 



When riding at a fence uphill, it is very neces- 

 sary to quicken the pace for the last stride or two 

 and send the horse at it with a will, or he may 

 not have sufBcient impetus to get clear over, 

 especially if there happens to be a ditch on the 

 far side of the fence. From the natural lie of 

 the ground, the animal cannot help being poised 

 in a favourable attitude for making a spring. The 

 contrary is the case, however, when going at a 

 leap downhill, when a horse must be well collected 

 and held together, and not hurried, to allow him 



