RIDING TO HOUNDS. 297 
IN COLLECTING THE HORSE, and properly putting him at his fence, there 
is a great art, and nothing but practice will give it in perfection. Double- 
posts-and-rails require a great deal of collecting and rousing, and the horse 
must go pretty fast at them, as also must he at all wide jumps, including 
water in all its forms. One essential is, that the horse shall have con- 
fidence in his rider; for if he thinks he may turn to the right or left he 
will most probably do so, unless he is very fond of jumping. Nervous 
men communicate their feelings to their horses, and though it may be 
difficult to explain how it is done, there is no doubt of the fact. It is 
remarkable how soon horses find out what kind of man they carry, and 
how they alter under different hands. This is partly owing to a mis- 
management of the mouth, but in great measure also to the trepidation of 
the rider. Unless, therefore, he has full confidence in his own courage, he 
need never expect his horse to go steadily and straight at his fences. The 
collecting is much easier than the management of the bit at the leap itsell, 
for there are two opposite things to be done, and the delicate point is to 
hit the moment of change from one to the other to a nicety. The first is 
to “catch hold of the horse’s head,” as it is called—that is, to bear more 
or less upon the mouth, pull the horse on his haunches and rouse him, 
either by voice, heel, or whip. This lasts till the moment of the effort 
made to rise over the obstacle, when the head should be released, so that 
the horse may have all his bodily powers at his command. If the head is 
confined the haunches do not act fully, because in making the spring the 
head is protruded, and painis given by the bit if it is still held fast ; and 
hence, to avoid the pain, the extension does not take place, the leap is not 
made with sufficient spring or power, and the horse alights too near the 
ilitch, if there is one, or possibly in it. But in releasing the head 
judgment is required, for if the rein is too loose the horse is apt to alight 
in such a position that he is “all abroad,” and without great help he will 
often fall; hence, most good performers, though they do not absolutely 
confine the head, yet they keep a very gentle and delicate hold of the 
mouth, and not only thus prevent the horse over-extending himself, but 
are also prepared to assist him if he is inclined to fall. This is the finished 
style of riding; and is only in the power of a man with a good seat as well 
as good hands. Both are wanted, because without the former it is 
impossible to avoid “ riding the bridle””—that is, holding on by it as well 
as by the saddle; and without good hands that delicate management of 
the bridle which I have attempted to describe is impracticable. What is 
called “lifting” the horse is sometimes attempted with the bit, but I do 
not recognise its utility. When a horse is likely to touch the top bar of 
a gate, or in any way to use too small an effort, a stroke of the whip down 
the shoulder is the best lift. Rousing and collecting are quite distinct 
from lifting, which I believe to be a myth altogether. In creeping, good 
hands and quietness in the saddle are the chief elements of success, and 
without them both, no one is likely to do much in this particular style ; 
hence it is that so few men can “creep” well, even though they have 
horses accustomed to it under other hands. When the horse has been 
thoroughly taught to creep his head may almost be left without control, 
merely guiding him quietly to the gap, and then letting him take his own 
way; but where the horse has to be made to creep, a rein should be taken 
in each hand, and the head guided as if with a silken thread, to the right 
or left, or wherever the animal is required to go. These remarks will per- 
haps be useful to all who have no experienced friend ready to afford a 
practical demonstration of the same fundamental points. One actual lesson 
