r, if you know your horse
and can depend upon him, so as to be sure he will carry you over
whatever you put him at, 'ave a good understanding with yourself before
you ever come to a leap, whether you intend to go over it or not, for
nothing looks so pusillanimous as to see a chap ride bang at a fence as
though he would eat it, and then swerve off for a gate or a gap." If
there is a crowd at the only practicable place in a fence, a lady must
wait her turn, and should her horse refuse, she must at once give place
to any rider who may be behind her, and wait until her turn comes again
before having a second attempt to clear the obstacle. As precious time
is lost by refusing horses, it is generally wiser if possible to find
some other means of exit than to argue with a refuser. Remember that
there is always a gate which can be opened, near a haystack, as the
farmer places his hay where he can easily get at it (Fig. 132). A lady
should save her horse as much as possible, jump only when she is
obliged, for hunting is not steeplechasing, and try to keep within sight
of hounds. She should remember to shut any gate she may use, and to
carefully avoid riding over winter beans, wheat, clover, roots, turnips,
or any crops, or ground newly sown with seed.

A lady should take a pull at her horse when going over ploughed land or
down-hill in order to keep him well collected, and should always ride
slowly over ground that is deep and holding, if she values her hunter's
soundness.

Ladies who know every fence and covert in a country have a great
advantage over strangers, because foxes frequently make a point from
one covert to another, and experienced hunting women will generally have
a good idea where they are going. Like Surtees' Michael Hardy, they know
their country and the runs of its foxes. There are people that have
hunted in Leicestershire all their lives, who manage to keep
comparatively near hounds and see good sport without jumping a single
fence. They know the country, generally ride to points, and act as
admirable pilots to the uninitiated. I owe them a deep debt of gratitude
for showing me the way, when I rode young horses who were getting their
first lessons in hunting. Croppers never came to me under their wise
guidance, but only when tempted by the keenness and excitement of my
over-sanguine youngster, I essayed lepping experiments which were not
always successful.

[Illustration: Fig. 132.--Haystack and gate.]

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