But the inclination for a run, encouraged by confidence in his luck, and by a draught of brandy from his pocket-pistol at the conclusion of the bargain, was not easy to overcome, especially with a horse under him that would take the fences to the admiration of the field. Dunstan, however, took one fence too many, and got his horse pierced with a hedge-stake
2006-12-27 05:01:46 · 4 answers · asked by Jordanian 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
It indeed does refer to english-style equestrian events in which a horse jumps over obstacles "hedges". The author may be speaking literally of imbibing too many spirits and then pushing his horse until it failed a jump and was injured by the obstacle, or it could be some kind of metaphor depending on where this bit of text was extracted from. In any regard it would suggest that pride and brandy goeth before a fall of some fashion.
2006-12-27 05:12:19 · answer #1 · answered by Curtis H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Literally: The guy was riding a horse and went on a fox-hunt course (jumps made of hedges and shrubs, hedge-stakes are used at the jumps) and the horse landed on a stake.
Figuratively: The guy was so high on his hopes and luck, that he took a challenge that was too much for him, killing his motivation (the horse), thereby ceasing his ambition.
2006-12-29 03:44:04 · answer #2 · answered by CH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe it refers to horse obstacle courses where the horse has to jump over the fences in competition. If they miss the jump, they could theoretically get poked by the fence posts (hedge-stake).
2006-12-27 05:04:50 · answer #3 · answered by equal_opposites 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like the equivlant to having one's beer muscles on,
in other words, the false over confidence helped along by a little too much brandy, causing one to bite off more than they can handle.
2006-12-27 05:17:37 · answer #4 · answered by darlin12009 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋