266 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



swerved, and our military hero was on his back in a trice. Up 

 and at it again ; show off No. 2 — this put him in a passion ; he 

 got up again, crammed in the spurs, and went at it furiously — a 

 third time he lay on his back, grinning savagely ; but he had 

 pluck, and put his horse again at the fence, which he at last 

 cleared. Had the hounds been running, the probability is that 

 his horse would not have refused at all, and tliis should be a 

 lesson to all never to be larking their horses, when there is no 

 occasion. The duty of a good rider is to spare his horse, and 

 when the hounds are not running never to ride over a fence, 

 unless it is unavoidable. 



A friend of mine, who wanted a little cobbler's wax sadly in 

 his saddle, was riding fast at a fence, which he had made up his 

 mind to clear, and so he did, but without his horse, and much 

 to his amazement found himself at the bottom of a pond, stick- 

 ing in the mud ; luckily his hat only was left there. There 

 being no time to fish it up, he was obliged to finish the run 

 (his iiorse being fortunately caught for him) with his handker- 

 chief tied round his head, and a pretty figure he presented at 

 the finish. It being cold work riding without a liat he bought 

 one of a countryman for three shillings, and thus being re- 

 established, amid the jokes and laughter of his friends trotted 

 off home. Upon this occasion the horse had kept ]iis eyes 

 where his master's ought to have heen— forward, and not relishing 

 the idea of a cold bath, although his master seemed evidently 

 so intentioned, did the Avisest thing he could have done: 

 stopped short, and gave his master an opportunity of having a 

 dip first to see how he liked it. 



The balance seat is all very v/ell in its way, but in my humble 

 opinion a very insecure one. A good rider has no business to 

 part company with his horse, unless they are both down toge- 

 ther ; he should, in fact, be a very Centaur, so firmly fixed to 

 his horse that they should have the appearance of being inse- 

 parables through kickings, plungings, swervings, and such like 

 performances. 



