62 HINTS ON RIDING TO BOUNDS 



properly held, cannot be seen by the horse, and being 

 stiff, cannot accidentally touch him. 



In former days the Kilkenny men were noted for 

 their jealous riding', and they used to carry an ash- 

 plant or a cutting- whip stuck into their right boot. 

 They only used the whip when absolutely necessary, 

 and at the end of a good run, when giving a description 

 of the pace, etc., I have heard the question asked, * Had 

 you to draw ?' meaning thereby, was the pace severe 

 enough to require the whip to be drawn from the boot ? 

 If there was no 'draw' the pace was voted as having 

 been slow, and the question ' Had you to draw ?' 

 became quite a common phrase amongst the Kilkenny 

 men, one of whom, the celebrated ' Maharum Marum,* 

 rode up and down a flight of steps as straight as he 

 would have walked, even when sober. Across country 

 he went as well as any of them in those days except 

 perhaps Lord St. Lawrence, who had more practice 

 in falling than any man I ever met. 



9. When riding at a tlat fence sit well back, having 

 all the weight placed on the thigh, and not on the 

 stirrups. If your horse makes a blunder, sit steady if 

 possible and leave him alone, as very often by so doing 

 a horse is able to recover himself. 



10. At an 'up' fence the rider should throw his 

 weight a little more on the shoulder by bending his 

 knees, and keep his hands very light and the reins 

 grasped in each hand, so as to be ready in case of a 

 scramble over a double. The elbows should be kept 

 close in to the sides, or else a sudden jerk may occur 

 and interfere with the horse's mouth and prevent his 

 taking off, doubling, or landing properly. When the 

 horse is ' changing ' on the bank, the weight should be 



