THE SHIRES 



apprehensions half-way, converting an uncertain 

 scramble into a certain downfall. Now it should 

 never be foro^otten that a horse in difficulties has 

 the best chance of recovery if the rider sits quiet 

 in the middle of his saddle and lets the animal's 

 head alone. It is always time enough to part 

 company when his own knee touches the ground, 

 and as he then knows exactly where his horse is, 

 he can get out of the way of its impending body, 

 ere it comes heavily to the earth. If his seat is 

 not stronof enouo^h to admit of such desirable 

 tenacity, let him at least keep a firm hold of the 

 bridle ; that connecting link will, so to speak, 

 preserve his communications, and a kick with 

 one foot, or timely roll of his own person, will 

 take him out of harm's way. 



The worst fall a man can get is to be thrown 

 over his horse's head, with such violence as to 

 lay him senseless till the animal, turning a 

 somersault, crushes his prostrate body with all 

 the weight of its own. Such accidents must 

 sometimes happen, of course, but they are not 

 necessarily of everyday occurrence. By riding 

 with moderate speed at his fences, and preserving, 

 on all occasions, coolness, good - humour, and 

 confidence in his partner, a sportsman, even 

 when past his prime, may cross the severest parts 

 of the Harborough country itself with an infini- 

 tesimal amount of danger to life and limb. Kind- 

 R 239 



