6 RIDING TO HOUNDS 



Keep out of the ruck, preferably near 

 the front but sHghtly to one side or the 

 other of the hounds. The advantage of 

 this is obvious ; you are more independent, 

 you can see better what is ahead of you, 

 and if the ground is soft, it will not be 

 roughened by horses which have preceded 

 you. 



On entering an enclosed field, select at 

 once the point at which you wish to leave 

 it, and approach your fence at right angles 

 from as long a distance as possible, in- 

 stead of waiting until you are near it to 

 straighten out your horse. This enables 

 your mount to see and understand in 

 ample time what is expected of him, and 

 allows other riders to know your line and 

 not interfere with it. 

 Jumoinj^ Never, under any circumstances, take 



in General a fence except at right angles. The rea- 

 son for this is that if you go at it straight 

 and vour horse hits, he has a chance to 

 recover himself on landing, or at the worst, 

 to stumble over on his knees and neck, — 

 whereas if he strikes it sideways, he is 



