THE USE OF SPURS 329 



releasing the snaffle ; and therefore the horse must either be ridden on the 

 curb alone while this process is being effected, or his head must be loosed 

 altogether; whereas, in the other mode, his mouth is still under the 

 control of the snaffle all the time that the curb is being l(3t out or 

 taken in. 



The attainment of " good hands," by which is to be understood a light 

 and delicate handling of the reins, is, or ought to be, the aim of every rider. 

 The most delicate mouth in the world is soon spoilt by bearing heavily on 

 it, as is too often done by grooms, and, indeed, by the average run of our 

 horsemen. So also in hunting, if the horse is not allowed his head in 

 making his effort, he will be almost sure to fail in exactly doing what he 

 meant, and will hit timber, if he is put at that class of fence, or will drop 

 his hind-legs into the ditch, if there is one. Bad riders use the reins as a 

 means of balancing themselves in the saddle, and this is especially done 

 in the hunting- field, where they would be utterly unable to maintain their 

 seats without the aid thus afforded to the proper grip and balance. Every 

 one in learning to ride ought to be taught to go through all the paces, and 

 to jump the bar without any reins in his hand ; and when he finds he is 

 able to do without them, he will learn to use them only in the way for 

 which they are intended. 



THE USE OF SPURS 



Spurs are employed for three distinct purposes, which are — first, to 

 stimulate the energies of the flagging or idle horse ; secondly, to punish 

 the vicious or refractory animal ; and thirdly, to induce him to improve 

 his pace without accelerating it, — from which last office they are specially 

 termed "persuaders." Sir Francis Head lays it down as a rule, that all 

 horses in this country are so generous, as to be excited by every carriage 

 or rider that passes them ; but though this is certainly the rule, there are 

 numerous exceptions to it, and to ride a " slug " without spurs on the road 

 would be a nuisance, and in the hunting-field a service of extreme danger. 

 That they may be abused is true enough ; and that they often are so, is 

 equally correct ; but that is no reason why they should not be worn by 

 those who can be trusted with them. On the road, they are only required 

 for sluggish or vicious horses ; but in the hunting-field, it is never safe to 

 be unprovided with them, as a prick at the right moment has saved many 

 a fall. 



MODES OF STARTING THE HORSE INTO HIS 

 VARIOUS PACES 



To MAKE A HORSE start off in a quick walk, when he is not inclined to 

 do so, either from being too fresh or too raw, is by no means an easy task. 

 I have often ridden one for several days in succession, before I could 

 make him settle down to a fair walk, and even then the slightest excite- 

 ment would upset all my apparent previous progress. This is especially 

 true of those hoi^ses possessed of such elastic joints, that they could "jog" 



