COERCION 



trot ; Lord Carington scarcely shortens the stride 

 of his gallop. Who shall decide between such 

 professors ? Much depends on circumstances, 

 more perhaps on horses. Assheton Smith used 

 to throw the reins on a hunter's neck when 

 rising at a gate, and say, "Take care of 

 yourself, you brute ! " — whereas the celebrated 

 Lord Jersey, who gave me this information of 

 his old friend's style, held his own bridle in a 

 vice at such emergencies, and both usually got 

 safe over! Perhaps the logical deduction from 

 these conflicting examples should be not to jump 

 timber at all ! 



But the rash horse is by this time getting 

 tired, and now, if you would avoid a casualty, 

 you must temper valour with discretion, and ride 

 him as skilfully as you can. 



He has probably carried you well and pleasantly 

 during the few happy moments that intervened 

 between freshness and fatigue ; now he is begin- 

 ning to pull again, but in a more set and 

 determined manner than at first. He does not 

 collect himself so readily, and wants to go faster 

 than ever at his fences, if you would let him. 

 This careless, rushing style threatens a down- 

 fall, and to counteract it will require the exercise 

 of your utmost skill. Carry his head for him, 

 since he seems to require it, and endeavour, by 

 main force if necessary, to bring him to his leaps 



23 



