128 THE BARB AKD THE BRIDLE. 



lot them in like a "jack in the box." Neither the pony nor his 

 l)lucky little rider were hurt, but (as they say in Ireland) that was 

 more by good luck than good guiding. 



I maintain that cliildren at that age should never be left in the 

 hunting field to their own devices, however well they may ride, and 

 that, either in their case or that of young ladies of riper age, they 

 should never be allowed to go with hounds, unless accompanied by 

 a man who is not only a thorough horseman and judge of hunting, 

 but is also well acquainted with the country he is riding over, and 

 accustomed to pilot ladies. 



After the pupil has learned to make her horse " creep " in the 

 manner above described — to insure success in which, however, the 

 closest watching is necessary on the part of the instructor, and 

 directions requisite in each individual case, utterly impossible in 

 written general instructions — she should be carefully taught to open 

 gates for herself, because it is nearly sure hereafter to occur that she 

 may have to ride at a pinch in a country place where her route lies 

 through a line of bridle gates, and the attendance of a man to open 

 them for her may not be available. Nothing is easier than for a 

 lady to open a well-hung and well-latched gate, the hinges of 

 which are on the oif side. Bridle gates occur most frequently in 

 great grazing countries, such as Leicestershire, AVarwickshire, or 

 Northamptonshire, by reason of the necessity of confining cattle 

 within certain limits. The gates are generally heavy, well poised on 

 their hinges, and opening either with wooden latching or iron spring 

 ones, easily reached at the top. 



K the gate is hung on the off side, all the lady has to do is to ride 

 her horse with his head in an oblique direction between the gatepost 

 and the gate, so that when she has the latter open she can continue 

 moving on in the same slanting direction. She should first press the 

 end of her crop down upon the latch, if it is a wooden one, keeping 

 herself perfectly upright in the saddle, and steadily seated in it. 

 Directly the latch lifts she should press firmly against it with the 

 rough crook, push the gate open, and press her horse onwards in the 

 same obhque direction, by which the animal's croup clears the gate 

 sooner, and all risk of its closing on him is avoided. If there is a 



