224 . RIDING FOR LADIES. 



for the obvious reason that a fox is very often found the 

 moment (or nearly so) that hounds are thrown into covert, 

 and if you are on the spot, you may get well away with 

 the pack ; whereas, at the end of a long cavalcade, on a 

 narrow and difficult roadway, it will be ten to one against 

 your doing anything better than hunting a stern chase for 

 the remainder of the run. 



It has for long been a vexed question whether or not 

 the hunting-field is a suitable place for ladies, and I am 

 certainly not going to discuss it in exte^iso, especially in a 

 necessarily limited space. One or two things concerning 

 it I may, however, be permitted to say. 



Firstly, that timid ladies, those mounted on badly broken 

 horses, and others (a large community) who push for first 

 place while in reality only fitted to take third (in company 

 with wheezy old gentlemen on fat cobs, farmers on green 

 colts, and the numerous company of confessed road-riders), 

 are a very decided nnisance in the field ; and, secondly, 

 that ladies who possess courage (by which I do not mean 

 the effrontery of ignorance and vanity combined), who are 

 thoroughly well mounted, and who never get in anybody's 

 way, are, in my opinion, a charming addition to the 

 delightful pleasures of the chase. If, then, you want to 

 be considered an acquisition, be contented — especially if a 

 beginner — to take second place : that is, not to force a way 

 among the hard-riding lot, or expose yourself to the 

 numerous perils which really first-flight men and women 

 go out prepared to encounter — ay, and usually manage 

 to get through safely, too, if not interfered with or 



