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freedom. I never had a fall, and yet I rode my 

 horse as freely down the hill, as up it. I attribute 

 my good fortune to my observation of others. I 

 noticed that every rider was accustomed to jog 

 gently down the hill, with a tight rein, and forward 

 inchnation of the body ; as if he was counting the 

 stones before him, and speculating which was to 

 throw him down. Nothing is better calculated to 

 insure a fall ; if a horse's legs are so groggy as to 

 make a tight rein necessary, he should not be 

 ridden at all ; he is not safe on the most level 

 ground : but if his legs and feet are sound, he 

 should be allowed his head, and left to his natural 

 pace; the bridle should be firmly in hand, but the 

 mouth need not be worried by constant bearing on 

 the bit. So long as the horse goes freely, he will 

 go safely ; he will of his own accord check his 

 speed if he finds it dangerous, unless urged by 

 unusual stimulus of punishment or competition. 

 I have invariably acted on this principle, and found 

 it safe : I think if some of my Hampstead friends 

 were to adopt it too, they would not be obliged to 

 purchase " the freedom of the road " at such a 

 costly price. It is a principle, almost amounting 

 to an axiom, in horsemanship, that the most fear- 

 less rider is the safest. I know of no instance in 

 which it so truly appUes, as in leaping, or riding 



