BTTCK-JUMPrCTG HOESEa. 247 



but it is done so quickly the eye can hardly detect 

 the act. 



Englishmen are at first a little astonished (I must 

 not say alarmed) at finding Irish horses rattle the 

 top stones of a wall about in jumping them. They 

 will do so often with the fore-feet as well as the hind 

 ones ; they know from habit as well as the rider does 

 that the stones, being put without cement or mortar, 

 will give way, and, verily, they do sometimes knock 

 them about rarely ; but ride an Irish horse at a ce- 

 mented brick or stone wall, he will be found very 

 careful how he hits them with his fore-legs, though 

 he will be sure to do so with his hind-feet, or rather 

 shoes, for in this case he hits the wall in going over 

 on the far side, and by this gains the impetus I have 

 mentioned. 



A horse can easily clear a gate of from four feet 

 three to four feet seven in his stroke ; not so 

 walls, often from five feet to five feet many inches 

 high. 



Some sportsmen may think I underrate the height 

 of gates. If he think so, I will engage to give him 



