SAUVE QUI PEUT. 195 



arises from the error or foolharcliness of the rider. 

 Allow me, therefore, to give two rules never to 

 be departed from, unless it might be in a cause of 

 life or death, as in the case of a friend of mine. 

 He, fully accoutred, put his charger at top speed 

 at an awfully high and massive timber fence, and 

 cleared it into an orchard; but three French lancers 

 at a man's heels is a hint we do not get unless 

 hunted instead of hunting-. Never ride a beaten 

 horse at timber of any importance, and never ride 

 any horse at it fast. If it is so slight that you 

 know it will easily break, it may be done without 

 danger: but even then I hold it a bad practice, 

 for if a horse breaks it without hurting himself, it 

 will probably induce him to try the same thing, 

 when failing in the breakage of timber would pro- 

 bably produce that of neck, back, or bones. 



" The great reasons why horses should not be 

 ridden fast at timber are, it does not give them 

 time to measure its height ; it does not give them 

 time to measure their stroke, so as to take off at 

 the proper distance; they get too close to it to 

 rise properly, or they take off so far from it as 

 to render their clearing it hazardous, and, at best, 

 a very great exertion; but, worse than all, when 

 going with great velocity, a horse cannot rise to 

 any considerable height. 



"The ordinary run of stiles, though lower, I 

 consider far more dangerous than a moderate gate 



