LEAPING 183 



should this be impracticable or doubtful, an experienced 

 " fencer " will, i±' the bridge is strong enough, take it at 

 twice, and do it cleverly. A slip, however, on the bridge is 

 apt to hang the horse's stifle in the top rail, and keep him 

 till the timi)er gives way ; or, by getting a leg between the 

 bars, the unlucky animal and his rider "come to grief." A 

 good way — don't fear the vulgar imputation of "slow " — is 

 to turn the horse over solus, if you have a friend to catch 

 him for you. 



The Gate, like the posts and rails, should be steadily rode 

 at ; but remember that the foothold in these places is often 

 very treacherous, owing to the ground being " poached " by 

 the passage of neat-cattle and sheep at each side of the 

 obstruction. 



Never ride at a gate that by probability is unfastened ; to 

 do so when it is actually on the swing would be madness ; 

 for so many good leapers measure heights and distance so 

 accurately as almost always to brush the former, and exactly 

 span the latter, so a gate on the swing, or even unfastened, 

 would in all probability fly open, and the horse, instead of 

 topping it, would first find himself swinging on it, and next 

 rolling rider and all headlong from off it. In such case it 

 would be not unlikely also that the legs of the horse might, 

 at the same time, become entangled in the gate rails ; should 

 this happen, first hold the head of the horse firmly down, 

 and then let some one unhinge the gate, which is best done 

 by putting the back against it. In these and other such like 

 cases, wherein timber is concerned, we may remind the steady 

 rider of the advantages which attended the heavy hunting 

 whip of former times, with its hook and hammer mountings, 

 as well as the sporting knife, with its cutting and sawing 

 blades. Some good horsemen always ride briskly at a gate, 

 which they say it is prudent to do ; first, because your horse 

 will at once distinguish between your purpose of merely 

 going up to open it, and your intention of going over it ; 

 next they observe that by rushing at it, if the horse does 

 not clear it, there is the greater chance of his breaking it by 

 the impetus of the rush. The rider of a tired or blown horse, 

 however, would do well to avoid timber when in his power, 

 for such falls are usually serious ones to both parties ; but 

 when circumstances strongly urge the leap, let him push his 

 horse at it with energy, lifting him by hand, and pressing 

 him with the heel at the moment of the spring. 



