MODERN RIDING. '2 7 5 



soon distress him, so that he could not cover 

 his leaps. A rate considerably short of speed 

 will bring you up. Therefore, the freeness 

 of your horse, even in this case, must not 

 induce you to let him exhaust himself, but 

 pull at, and save him as much as you can. 



Look before you leap, is a necessary cau- 

 tion; a person who knows the country may 

 ride more forward than one who is a stranger 

 to it. Never take unnecessary leaps to dis- 

 play your horse, nor leap at gate or rail, if 

 you can get through or over the hedge or 

 fence. Nay, if your horse is not a very safe 

 leaper and used to take timber, it is advisable 

 to go round, if you cannot open the gate. 



Never push your horse up hill, nor too fast 

 down, and spare him all you can in unfavour- 

 able ground, such as ploughed fields, swamps, 

 and the like. 



Fern, furze, heath, hillocks, &c. to persons 

 not accustomed to them, may appear great 



t2 



