FALLS. 277 



hounds, as well as style of riding, much altered as 

 to speed. This has been accounted for in two ways : 

 first, the modern sportsman sits, for the most part, 

 down on his saddle, whereas the sportsman of olden 

 times stood up in his stirrups, and, when his horse 

 fell with him in his gallop, was nearly certain to 

 fall on his head. Secondly, he did not ride the 

 well-bred, superiorly actioned horse that the modern 

 sportsman rides, which would account for his falling 

 oftener in his gallop, and particularly as the sur- 

 face of the country, in his day, was very uneven 

 and uncultivated compared to what it now is. JN ei- 

 ther was the hunting cap of much service to him 

 in accidents of this description. On the contrary, 

 from its being so low in the crown, as it was then 

 made, coming in immediate contact with the top of 

 the head, the concussion was greater if he were 

 thrown upon his head, than if it had been cased in 

 a hat which, from the depth of it, would break the 

 fall. 



In all falls, the horseman should roll away from 

 his horse as soon as he possibly can, lest in his 

 struggle to rise again he strike him with his legs 

 or head. It frequently happens that the horse him- 

 self rolls after he falls, and, if in the direction in 

 which his rider lies, is apt to crush and injure him. 

 Indeed, there is scarcely any hard rider who has 

 not been thus served ; but here again self-posses- 

 sion often stands his friend. When he sees the 

 body of his horse approaching him, he frequentl}' 

 saves himself by meeting it with one of his feet, 

 and, by obtaining a fulcrum, shoves his own body 



