280 HORSEMANSHIP. 



should allow him some time to get away from it, 

 for in the event of his clearing it, it is still possible 

 he may fall, by stumbling over something after 

 landing ; stepping into a grip or rut, or into false 

 ground, all of which he is subject to, but more es- 

 pecially towards the end of a chase, when, of course, 

 his strength and action are reduced. It is better, 

 if you can, to take a line of your own than to fol- 

 low any one at this time, as your horse is now fresh ; 

 and, by not having cause to pull him up to let 

 others go before you, you have a better chance to 

 get a good start, which gives you a great advan- 

 tage. When once along side the pack, quit them 

 not until they have finished their work, or at least 

 as long as your horse can go without trespassing 

 too hard on his powers. If, however, you get the 

 lead, and can keep it for forty minutes, best pace o'cer 

 the grass^ with rasping fences and two wide brooks 

 in your way, the laurels Caesar won would be weeds, 

 and withered ones too, compared with those which 

 would, for that one day, be yours. 



There have been, and are now, some splendid 

 specimens of horsemanship, and the management 

 of horses in other ways, amongst servants, and it 

 appears there always were such. Amongst the ce- 

 lebrated ones of antiquity we find the following, 

 moving in this humble sphere : — Automedon, ser- 

 vant to Achilles ; Idseus to Priam ; Metiocus to 

 Turnus, king of Rutuli ; Myrtilus to OEnomous, a 

 son of Mars ; Ceberes to Darius ; and Anniceris, 

 servant to Cyraneus. And why should not the 

 servant, by practice, become as fine a horseman as 



