SPORTSMAN 201 



ISIen who are not acquainted with the grass 

 countries, in particular where the fences consist of 

 live quicks and thorns, will do well to notice when 

 a hedge is cut which way it is laid down to the top, 

 and put his horse at it obliquely, ^^dth his head 

 froifi the root of the thorn, and the top of the 

 thorn being weak will give way to the horse's legs ; 

 but if he goes straight against it, he stands a good 

 chance of a fall, — and if he goes obhquely, on the 

 contrary plan, he reduces his fall to a certainty 

 should the horse not clear any strong plasher which 

 rises when the horse's knees are under it, — but not 

 so the other way. 



Young sportsmen are apt to think it right to 

 be first if they can throughout a run ; but they 

 will do well to take it quietly at the beginning, 

 and by that means they may be fii'st at the end 

 of the run, which othermse they would never have 

 seen — particularly if it is a good one, and if so, it 

 will be a feather in his cap. A real good run 

 seldom occurs, and when it does, it is seldom 

 duly appreciated ; for to get one requires so many 

 circumstances combined — first, a good fox, then a 

 good find and a good scent, then a good country, 

 good luck, etc. The chances against it are 

 innumerable — a bad scent, bad fox, bad find. 



