RIDING TO HOUNDS 257 



again the instant he alights. How seldom this is 

 done in practice the sporting pictures that appear 

 in the pictorial papers, done from actual photo- 

 graphs, most amusingly show. 



Q. What are common faults in riding to 

 hounds .^ 



A. It is really dangerous when a front rider 

 is suddenly afflicted with apprehension about the 

 fence he is riding at — which is especially likely 

 to happen if he is not used to cutting out the 

 work — and thinking only of himself, pulls across 

 others, who have already set their horses going at 

 the fence, trusting that he will hold on the even 

 tenor of his way. If the field have not yet 

 settled into their places, it is pure luck if 

 some one does not get a heavy fall, for even 

 if all steer clear of the offender, and no one 

 catches him broadside, and bowls him over as he 

 deserves, some of the horses are sure to be thrown 

 out of their stride in the confusion, and a heavy 

 fall may be the result. 



Other faults are far too common. There are 

 riders who will not wait for their turn at a gate 

 or gap, and others who shamelessly cut in before 

 another at a fence ; and it is sad to say ladies are 

 not free from these malpractices at the beginning 

 of a run. At a later stage those who are still 

 there are likely to know what they are doing, 

 and to take care not to transgress against good 

 manners and fair play. Those who behave in 

 such ways would be the first to cry out, if a 

 spirit of retaliation arose in the breast of their 

 victims ! Another fault is that of following too 

 close behind another at a fence, not making 

 sufficient allowance lest the horse in front should 

 18 



