Falls 143 



head in a neat and workmanlike manner. And when one 

 can do this he knows how to fall. 



I doubt if any one can retain entire presence of mind 

 throughout a fall. As we feel ourselves going, reason de- 

 serts us. When we come to our senses again we find 

 that a kind of second mind has acted in the interest of 

 self-preservation, under the influence of which we have 

 clung to the bridle-reins or scrambled the length of our- 

 selves to get from beneath a possible somersault of the 

 horse. 



Some say never part company with your horse until the 

 last moment, when he is surely down. I cannot agree with 

 this counsel. I believe it is the better part of valour and 

 of horsemanship to part company with him the moment 

 you feel that the chances are he is going down. Of course 

 your horse may recover and you might have saved yourself 

 the inconvenience of mounting again, but it is better by far 

 to clear out while you have the power of self-preservation 

 to go with you, and land on your hands and feet, than to be 

 an instant too late and so be carried under your mount. 

 You will go to grass oftener perhaps by adopting this plan, 

 but it is better to throw yourself off than to wait until you 

 are thrown off. No one can tell you how this is done; in- 

 stinct only can direct. Ride by balance, give yourself up 

 wholly to the law of self-preservation, and instinct will do 

 the rest. 



It is safe to say not one fall in a thousand is accompanied 

 by injury; and that the greater number of falls are the fault 

 of the rider there can be no doubt. Nine times out of ten 

 a horse goes down because he is thrown by the rider, either 



