174 SYSTEM OF KENNEL AND 



mole-liills, on a horse having very rickety fore-legs, 

 and whilst so doing, what think you was his occu- 

 pation? Tying a lash to his whip, and the open blade 

 of his pocket-knife between his teeth. The man who 

 coukl perform such a feat as this, we may naturally 

 conclude would stick at nothing. Just the sort of 

 fellow to lead a forlorn hope or dash up to the 

 cannon's mouth. Experienced foxhunters are agreed 

 that there is no surer proof of courage than riding 

 quick down hill, although, in our opinion, this act 

 shows want of judgment and really good horse- 

 manship, for what says the old triplet ? — 



Up the liill spare me, 

 Down the hill bear me, 

 On the flat never fear me. 



There is often a deal of truth in these wise old 

 saws, and in these three lines are condensed the best 

 rules for riding to hounds. The forcing your horse 

 against rising ground is the surest method of stop- 

 ping him altogether, if in the least distressed, and 

 hurrying him down the descent most likely to 

 eventuate in a most calamitous cropper. The next 

 most dangerous fall generally comes from going too 

 fast at timber — a great mistake — or riding at a 

 swinging gate, which we have seen men do to 

 show their contempt of danger. Some horses have 

 rather a fancy for gate-jumping ; but they require 

 to be left to their own discretion how to take 

 them, which they will do by shortening sail and 

 gathering themselves together for the spring. In 

 fact, all animals of the jumping order slacken their 

 pace before taking their leap — deer particularly, 



