THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 109 



most essential point, the taking off; and again, in landing, 

 if his footing be not sound, or exactly what is desirable, 

 he can make no effort to recover himself — over he purls 

 — beyond power of salvation. If he have less impetus, 

 he can take off to the best advantage ; and, if landed in 

 difficulties, may escape with a scramble — a slight disturb- 

 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 1 No ; well saved, though 'twas just ' omjie 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 inclined 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 



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

 word answers to the English of topsy-turvy. 



