FENCING. 



263 



In the latter case, his fore-quarters come to the 

 ground first ; and by breaking the force of the fall, 

 the rider has time to roll away from him before he 

 himself rolls over, should the violence of the fall 

 cause him to do so. In the former, if the timber 

 be strong enough firmly to resist the weight and 

 force of a horse that strikes it with his fore-legs, 

 especially if above the knees, the first part of his 

 body which comes to the ground is either his back 

 or his rump. Should the rider then not be thrown 

 clear of him, he must be made of hard materials if 

 no bones are broken, or some serious injury sus- 

 tained. All this, then, enforces the advice we have 

 already given, of avoiding strong timber with horses 

 not perfect at leaping it, as much as may be com- 

 patible with keeping your place with hounds ; and 

 still more so with horses, how perfect soever they 

 may be at it, that are blown, or very much dis- 

 tressed. It likewise induces us to point out the 

 best and safest method of riding at this description 

 of fence. 



Never ride a horse fast at a timber fence, unless 

 it be a low one, with something wide to be cleared 

 on the landing side. If a man or a boy is seen exer- 

 cising himself in jumping heighth, you do not see 

 him run quickly at it, nor does he run over any 

 considerable space of ground before he springs. On 

 the contrary, he only takes a few steps, and those 

 at a moderate rate. Never, then, ride your hunter 

 fast at gates, stiles, &c., unless in the one case 

 alluded to. Mr. Thomas Assheton Smith, perhaps 

 more celebrated for his horsemanship in the hunt- 



