332 HUNTING. 



talking about " lifting" and " assisting " horses over 

 their fences, I cannot help thinking that if they lifted 

 themselves off their backs they would see how much 

 better horses are able to jump without their assistance. 

 Many of my readers doubtless saw the Grand 

 National of 1900, and how poor Hidden Mystery, 

 who, after he had fallen and had unshipped his rider, 

 jumped the fences with safety to himself and the 

 field. Such sights must show how necessary it is 

 for us to interfere as little as possible with our horses 

 when riding them over fences. 



If most horses dislike jumping, it is certain that 

 they love hunting and will exert every effort to keep 

 in touch with hounds. Those who doubt this should 

 ride a young horse, and note how anxious he is to try 

 and keep with hounds and how, with the fearlessness 

 of ignorance he would charge any fence and probably 

 kill both himself and his rider, if he were permitted to 

 urge on his wild career. Blow a hunting horn near a 

 stable where there are hunters, and then listen to the 

 snorting, kicking and excitement which your action 

 has aroused ; but it is unwise to repeat the experi- 

 ment, for the chances are that the excited war horses 

 inside may do some damage in their frantic efforts to 

 get out and follow the music. Watch farmers' horses 

 loose in a field when hounds are in the vicinity, and 

 you will see them careering madly up and down, as if 

 they too would like to join in hunting the fox, 

 although their avocation in life dooms them to the 

 placid work of drawing a plough or heavy cart. As 



