The Duke of Cambridge. 339 



horses should never be schooled over water, or over any kind 

 of fence in heavy ground, without having proper boots on their 

 legs. In fact, I had always prided myself on having devised 

 an admirable schooling boot for jumpers ; but as I had mis- 

 laid the pair I had generally in use, I neglected to get another 

 pair, or to employ a bandage with a strip of felt to protect 

 the back tendons. I may mention that it is a good plan to 

 lay down on the far side of a water jump of this kind, strong 

 wicker hurdles or screens covered with earth, so as to pre- 

 vent the animal's feet sinking into the ground on landing. 

 Although the wound was an ugly one a little above the 

 fetlock, Gustave made a rapid and complete recovery, thanks 

 to dry dressing with iodoform, and pressure by means of 

 cotton- wool bandaging. He appeared for the first time in a 

 jumping competition at the Ranelagh Club Horse Show, 

 where, ridden by my wife in a field of over twenty competi- 

 tors, he was second to Lufra, who has been one of the most 

 successful show jumpers in England. I may mention that 

 Lufra belongs to Mr Fred. Horton, who takes a great deal 

 of interest in show jumping, Mr Irving, F.R.C.V.S., and Mr 

 Landsley, both of whom are fine horsemen, ride for him at 

 competitions. On the first day at the Richmond Show, 

 Gustave was footsore, and accordingly jumped reluctantly. 

 Being all right on the second day, he fenced in beautifully 

 clever and temperate style ; but the water jump was so short 

 (laterally), that the old gelding, seeing the turf on each side 

 of him, leaped sideways (as any intelligent horse would have 

 done) and got disqualified. For this reverse, my wife had the 

 consolation of being personally complimented on her seat and 

 hands by the Duke of Cambridge, who came up to where 

 she had halted Gustave, and told her that he had never seen a 

 lady ride better over fences than she did, and that he was 

 greatly pleased with the way she handled her horse, and with 

 her method of giving him a loose rein when jumping, instead 

 of hanging on to his head, as many riders do. The Duke 

 admired Gustave, especially for his good mouth ; and re- 



