1 68 HUNTING THE GRISLY. 



hunter I ever owned was a sorrel horse named 

 Sagamore. He was from Geneseo, was fast, 

 a remarkably good jumper, of great endurance, 

 as quick on his feet as a cat, and with a daunt- 

 less heart. He never gave me a fall, and 

 generally enabled me to see all the run. 



It would be very unfair to think the sport 

 especially dangerous on account of the occa- 

 sional accidents that happen. A man who is 

 fond of riding, but who sets a good deal of 

 value, either for the sake of himself, his 

 family, or his business, upon his neck and 

 limbs, can hunt with much safety if he gets a 

 quiet horse, a safe fencer, and does not try to 

 stay in the front rank. Most accidents occur 

 to men on green or wild horses, or else to 

 those who keep in front only at the expense 

 of pumping their mounts ; and a fall with a 

 done-out beast is always peculiarly disagree- 

 able. Most falls, however, do no harm what- 

 ever to either horse or rider, and after they 

 have picked themselves up and shaken them- 

 selves, the couple ought to be able to go on 

 just as well as ever. Of course a man who 

 wishes to keep in the first flight must expect 

 to face a certain number of tumbles ; but even 

 he will probably not be hurt at all, and he 

 can avoid many a mishap by easing up his 

 horse whenever he can that is, by always 

 taking a gap wheri possible, going at the lowest 

 panel of every fence, and not calling on his 

 animal for all there is in him unless it cannot 

 possibly be avoided. It must be remembered 

 that hard riding is a very different thing from 



