2i6 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



he gets near to it. For instance no one would 

 call upon a man to jump into a pond or blame 

 him when he turns away from wire. But he must 

 be careful to cross no one at the fence and if he 

 has to pull across the men behind him he ought 

 to take an opportunity of warning them of his 

 intention and the reason of it, if that is possible. 

 But he must bear in mind that it is only ex- 

 ceptional conditions which will serve as an excuse 

 for hesitation or indecision. 



It sometimes happens in a very pewy country 

 that there are only one or two practical 

 places in some of the fences. These places are 

 frequently the scene of very bad manners. It is 

 a recognised fact, in theory, that the leader at such 

 a place should be well away, say a couple or 

 three lengths from the fence before the next 

 man jumps it. Number two at the fence is 

 waiting his turn patiently and just as he is 

 moving towards the fence first one and then 

 another will thrust across him till he who was 

 second at the place is one of the last to get over. 

 I have seen a man who has given up his own 

 place to the huntsman so that he should get on 

 with his hounds so hustled by a crowd that he 

 has been one of the last to get over. Such con- 

 duct is not only abominably rude, but it is un- 

 sportsmanlike. 



A fine horseman somehow never seems in a 

 hurry, and never seems to jump a big place, and 

 rarely if ever does his horse labour. Yet, any- 

 one who rides alongside him will find that he is 



