116 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



ance, — and a miss is as good as a mile—nothing causing 

 more delay than a rattling fall, especially if attended 

 with the usual dissolution of partnership between man 

 and horse, to say nothing of other trifling inconveniences, 

 not unfrequently the result of such a game at logger- 

 heads. 



Is he down? No; well saved, though 'twas just ' omne sed,' 

 All but a Dinorben * or — heels over head." 



There is no doubt that all quadrupeds can jump 

 height as well standing as with a run at it. Many 

 maintain that a horse can clear the widest brook with 

 the same ease. I am by no means prepared to deny 

 this position, having seen wonderful instances of standing 

 jumpers ; but, for water, or a wide ditch, on the other 

 side of a staken-bound, I am incHned for a little extra 

 powder. Common sense will avoid extremes, and the 

 happy medium is, probably, that which will carry you 

 best over. Some horses have an inveterate habit of 

 rushing at their fences, and make wonderfully few 

 mistakes in their velocity. With these, there is nothing 

 left but to give them their heads, any interference being 

 more likely to produce mischief; but they cannot be 

 classed among perfect hunters, and the habit is to be 

 imputed to defect in their education — a want of hand. 



* I am given to understand that the literal signification of this Welch word 

 answers to the English of topsy-turvy. 



