PUECHASING HORSES. 155 



other, that, with the exception of width, they all are 

 the same. Timber is timber, meet it where you may, 

 with the exception of how and where it is placed ; 

 and a man must be a simpleton, or at least a very 

 young hand, who would put a horse at a stiff gate so 

 placed that it would be next to impossible that he 

 could clear it." 



"But do you think a horse would face what it 

 appeared impossible for him clear?" 



" That would depend very much on circumstances. 

 A very young and high-couraged horse, excited by 

 hounds and other horses, probably would do so ; a 

 horse accustomed to be ridden by 'a thoughtless, in- 

 considerate, reckless rider would perhaps do so from 

 fear. The judgment of the animal as to the danger 

 or possibility of the thing would possibly be better 

 than that of his ' Bull rider ;* but he would prefer 

 the danger of hurt by a probable fall to the certainty 

 of being punished for refusing. I am quite wilHng to 

 admit that refusing his fences is about as bad a fault 

 as a hunter can have, with the exception of having no 

 jumping capability in him, if he tries ; * but the 



