134 HOW WOMEN SHOULD RIDE 



At a ditch or stream considerable 

 speed is needed to gain the momentum 

 necessary to cover the distance, and the 

 horse must have plenty of rein given 

 him. 



A picket fence is usually regarded as 

 a very formidable obstacle, but if nego- 



Picket and Slat tiated properly it is no worse 

 Fences than others. It should be 

 taken at a good rate of speed, for the 

 danger is that the horse will get hung 

 up on it and be cut with the points 

 by not having enough impetus. It is 

 not so dangerous to hit this fence in 

 front, for it is frail and the top of the 

 pickets will snap off at the binder if hit 

 with force. A slat fence is more to be 

 dreaded, on account of the ledge on the 

 top of it formed by the binder. This 

 should be taken with deliberation, as the 

 thing to be guarded against is having 

 the horse hit his knees on the ledge 



