The Life of a Great Sportsman 



on the top. What is wanted for a horse to do properly is a 

 low bank, very narrow on the top, with a big deep ditch on the 

 far side, and when I say "do properly," I mean by changing 

 on the top of this " razor "-topped bank — not simply kicking 

 back with his hind legs, but with all four legs a top and then 

 launching over. 



The skilled rider in the show ring can undoubtedly be of 

 great assistance to his horse by getting him nicely balanced, 

 and making him take off at the proper distance from the fence, 

 as his practised eye will tell him lengths before he gets to the 

 obstacle, whatever it is, if he is getting too near, and he will 

 make his mount shorten his stride accordingly, to the great 

 improvement of his performance. 



Though there can be no possible harm in teaching a horse 

 to jump these artificial fences, it must not be assumed for a 

 moment that his becoming a proficient, entitles him to be called 

 a hunter, because it certainly does not. 



A horse with a good rider of either sex on his back, jumping 

 fence after fence in the arena as if to the manner born, is a 

 sight worth seeing at any time. But the show hunter must 

 be looked at as you would a replica of a picture, and perhaps 

 not a very good one at that. 



For the original you must go to the hunting field and 

 nowhere else. 



THE END 



VINTON & COMPANY. LTD., 8, llREAM's BUILDINGS, CHANCEKY LANE, LONDON, E.C. 



