106 THE HORSE AND HIS RIDER. 



best riders from the region of the latter, whenever for 

 the first time they try to get across the former, must, 

 until they have been sufficiently educated, either submit 

 to follow experienced leaders or break their necks. 



But although of valour discretion has been declared 

 to be the better part, yet in hunting a constant necessity 

 to "look before you leap" is a virtue so exceedingly 

 painful to practise, that on the principle that "where 

 ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise/' the imperfect 

 rider, in a good country, may rest well satisfied that he 

 has infinitely more enjoyment than is allotted to the 

 superior horseman in a bad one. 



THE STABLE. 



A comparison between the true Briton's love for his 

 home, and that of a horse for his stable, elicits con- 

 flicting facts which are very remarkable ; for although 

 in theory and in law the house of the former is said 

 to be "his castle," and although the latter is confined 

 to his stable by head-collars, pillar-reins, rack-chains, 

 halter-ropes, yet the hard, honest fact is, that the owner 

 of the castle often seizes every possible opportunity to 

 escape from it, while the inhabitant of the stable, if 

 left to his own accord, would never leave it. 



