334 HUNTING. 



me until I lent him to a friend. When I again 

 rode the horse, he refused with me at the first fence. 

 I spoke to him, took him again at it and he jumped 

 it, but I had a similar difficulty at another obstacle, 

 and was entirely out of the chase. I was subse- 

 quently told by those who knew the horse that the 

 man to whom I had lent him was very noisy, had 

 cut the animal about with his whip, and had treated 

 the surprised onlookers to scenes with him at every 

 fence. The horse had a light snaffle mouth, and 

 would quickly resent any undue interference with it. 

 It is unwise, also, to lend a hunter to even an expert 

 rider, if he or she is afflicted with a bad temper. I 

 heard of a case of a brilliant hunter being lent to 

 an accomplished horsewoman who returned him after 

 a day's hunting with large wheals on his body, 

 showing how cruelly she had used her whip on him. 

 The lady to whom the animal belonged was greatly 

 distressed on seeing the condition of her favourite 

 hunter, who was one of the best that ever crossed 

 Leicestershire. A whip, as I have said, should never 

 be used with the object of inflicting pain, but as an 

 "aid." It is a good plan to always give a hunter a 

 touch with the whip when sending him at an excep- 

 tionally big fence, as a reminder that he must exert 

 his best efforts ; but in order that the horse may 

 thoroughly understand its meaning, it should be used 

 only at stiff fences ; the touch should not be so severe 

 as to hurt him, and should be given on his off flank. 

 A horse must bring his quarters to the right before he 



