ARTIFICIAL FENCES. 97 



as a matter of course, just as he would canter 

 from furrow to furrow over a field ; nothing 

 can be worse than a horse who, on seeing a 

 fence before him, rushes at it nolens volens ; as, 

 owing to the impetus thus gained, if he makes 

 a mistake it is very difficult for him to recover 

 himself. Therefore, take every precaution to 

 teach your colt to leap quietly and without any 

 fuss. 



When a horse is required to hunt in a 

 bank country, it is a very common practice to 

 attach a cavasson to his bridle and lead him 

 over a few of these fences, but I do not con- 

 sider this good practice, or indeed for any kind 

 of leaping. For if he is taken over small banks 

 at first he will learn the use of his legs, which 

 in reality is the object required, and if he 

 should by chance fall, the pace being so slow 

 and the height so insignificant, the rider, if he 

 be competent to break-in a colt at all, will not 

 hurt himself : for a good rider ought to know 

 how to fall well as well as how to ride well. 

 When you fall try to retain the reins in your 



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