LADIES ON HORSEBACK 41 



the next field, before others who allow their 

 horses to gallop right up to the fence are near 

 you." Mrs. Burn explains a few pages further 

 on what she means : " By riding slow, I mean 

 taking a pull about three or four lengths from 

 the fence and getting your horse to go steady 

 and lookr This, by the way, is sound advice 

 for man or woman. Another matter which I 

 should insist on for all young people, girls or 

 boys, is that they should learn to open gates 

 neatly and properly, and if they are alone 

 never to leave them open. I can remember 

 the time when ladies out hunting nearly always 

 expected you to open a gate for them, but now 

 in Leicestershire they can do it as deftly as 

 most men. Of course there are cases when 

 the gate is too heavy or a strong wind is 

 blowing when a woman must seek the help of 

 a stronger arm. Sometimes, however, she can 

 dispense with this help. I remember once 

 cominor down to an awkward oate with an 

 unjumpable fence. There was a litde group of 

 men, and two of them were good men too, 

 struggling with the fastening. Suddenly be- 

 hind us we heard a silvery voice, " Please let 

 me come," and looking up we saw a lady on a 

 small blood horse riding at the gate. She got 

 over as safely as her pluck deserved, and then 

 turning in her saddle said as she followed the 



