OPENING GATES. 275 



use of them when not absolutely necessary, as the 

 more liberty a hunter has, the more likely he is to 

 recover himself when in difficulty. 



The perfect command of a horse in the hunting 

 field is in nothing more essential than in passing 

 through half-opened gates, and many have been the 

 bad accidents that have arisen from the want of it, 

 horses being often stuck fast between the gate and 

 the post, to the no small injury to their rider's legs 

 or knees. Indeed the being handy in opening a 

 gate, is no trifling accomplishment in a hunter ; 

 and here a few lessons in the school may be of ad- 

 vantage to him. He would there be taught to obey 

 the leg as well as the hand ; and, by a slight touch 

 of the spur, would throw his haunches round to the 

 left, on his rider unfastening the latch with his 

 right hand, and thus enable him to throw the gate 

 behind him, and pass through it. This has refer- 

 ence to gates that open toioards the horseman ; 

 such as open y*?'om him, require not the horse's aid, 

 unless it be, to push them outward, with his breast. 

 But it often happens when a horse is blown, or 

 beat, that unless he have a very good mouth, he 

 will hang upon a gate, that opens towards him, 

 and nearly prevent his rider from opening it at all. 

 One precaution, however, should always be taken 

 with gates ; the rider should never trust to catch- 

 ing the topmost bar, or w^hat is called the head of 

 the gate, but should pass his hand inside of it, 

 when he will be certain to come in contact with 

 some part of it. 



