MOSTLY GOOD HORSEMEN. 45 



The consciousness of this makes heavy men ride 

 straight, as every man should do as nearly as he can. 

 I know heavy leaps take a good deal out of a horse ; 

 but heavy ground takes more, particularly if we are 

 forced to increased speed over it in order to make up 

 for going out of the way. The heavy man knows he 

 cannot take liberties with his horse, but, on the 

 contrary, must nurse him at every opportunity, and 

 that he must not throw one chance away. The 

 lOst. men are apt to think they may, and thus often 

 find out their mistake ; at least they find their horses 

 beat. I will venture to say, let two horses be going 

 together, the one with 14st. on him, the other with 

 9st., and supposing them both all but beat, let the 

 heavy weight, as most probably he would, hold his 

 horse well together, take care to put him on the 

 firmest ground, and take him along a fair even pace, 

 he will get him perhaps well through his difficulty. 

 Let the light weight have his horse's head loose, clap 

 the spurs to him, and not select his ground, he will 

 stop him in two fields, or probably in a less distance. 

 A horse sinking cannot bear increased exertion, 

 however light the weight may be ; no, not if he was 

 turned loose. 



As far as long observation serves me, I think I 

 have stated the great secret of heavy men astonishing 

 us, as many unquestionably have done, and now do, 

 with hounds. Such men, riding precisely as they do, 

 which is the system upon which feather weights 

 should ride, would of course be able to ride still 

 forwarder take 4st. away from them ; for even doing 

 as they do, I always hear them " curse their cumbrous 

 weight " as heartily as horses have reason to do some 

 light ones. If we wanted any proof of what judg- 



