LEAPING 153 



heels, and precludes the chance of his 

 getting away. 



If the horse bungles the jump, or 

 comes down on his knees without 

 disturbing his rider's equilibrium, and 

 seems likely to fall, a woman cannot 

 disentangle herself from him in time 

 to get away. If he should go down, 

 therefore, she must sit evenly, leaning 

 back, that her weight may be taken from 

 his fore-legs, while he is allowed plenty 

 of rein. He may thus regain his balance 

 or his footing after a scramble ; but it 

 will be impossible, in a slow fall like this, 

 for a woman to be thrown clear of him. 

 As he will not roll immediately, the 

 closer she sits the better ; so that if he 

 tumbles on his near side, the force of 

 the blow will be broken by the pom- 

 mels, which, if she be sitting close, will 

 hit the ground first, thus protecting her 

 legs from the concussion. Moreover, if 



