HAND 



and held together that he may jump well up in the 

 air, and extend himself afterwards, so as to cover 

 the wide uncertainties he may find on the landing 

 side. For a bank he is pretty sure to collect 

 himself without troubling his rider ; and this is, 

 perhaps, why Irishmen, as a general rule, use 

 such light bridles. 



Now, a woman cannot possibly bring her horse 

 up to a high staked-and-bound fence, out of deep 

 ground, with the strength and resolution of a 

 man, whose very grip in the saddle seems to 

 extort from the animal its utmost energies. Half- 

 measures are fatal in a difficulty, and, as she 

 seems unable to interfere with good effect, she is 

 wise to let it alone. 



We may learn from her, however, one of the 

 most effective secrets of the whole art, and that 

 is, to ride with long reins. " Always give them 

 plenty of rope," said poor Jem Mason, when 

 instructing a beginner ; and he certainly practised 

 what he preached. I have seen his hands carried 

 so high as to be level with his elbows, but his 

 horse's head was always in the right place ; and 

 to this mus1i( be attributed the fact that, while he 

 rode to hounds straighter than anybody else, he 

 got comparatively few falls. A man with long 

 reins not only affords his horse greater liberty at 

 his fences, but allows him every chance of recovery 

 should he get into difficulties on landing, the rider 



73 



