SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 173 



tiglitly by thigh and leg to the saddle ; some in 

 long, others in short stirrups : every man rides, 

 we conclude, as it suits him, or according to the 

 instructions received in early youth, or later in 

 life from a riding-master. The best and firmest, 

 although perhaps not the most elegant, is that 

 acquired by a self-taught boy on his pony, who will 

 stick to the pigskin through kickings, rearings, 

 swervings, and such-like devices to dislodge him. 

 The balance seat we consider the most insecure, 

 not only in the hunting-field but elsewhere. Well 

 enough as long as his horse goes straight at fences, 

 but should he swerve just before taking them, ten 

 to one against the balance man keeping his equili- 

 brium. We have noted many hard riders of this 

 class, — good riders we cannot call them, since good 

 riders and hard riders are by no means synonymous 

 terms. We consider that may be the best sports- 

 man who can keep his place in the field with the 

 fewest falls; and we may go a step farther, by say- 

 ino: that the horse and his rider ouo-ht never to 



CD O 



part company, except under very peculiar circum- 

 stances. The worst fall you can get is when going 

 fast down hill your horse puts his foot into an old 

 rut or rabbit-hole ; a roll over is then the inevit- 

 able consequence, and if no bones are displaced 

 you may consider yourself most fortunate. 



An anecdote related of the once-celebrated Jack 

 Stevens, whipper-in to the more celebrated Osbaldis- 

 ton, occurs to us here, showing the dare-devil cha- 

 racter of the man. He was seen riding fast down 

 hill, over very uneven ground, dotted with large 



