342 HUNTING. 



back place on the opening day of the season, and thus 

 avoid being jostled by the mighty crowd she will see 

 on a Kirby Gate day. She will doubtless find her 

 mount far more excited and difficult to manage than ever 

 before, and will require to exert a good deal of tact and 

 patience in restraining his ambition to catch the fox. 

 The opening day is always the most trying one of the 

 season. All the world and his wife seem to be at the 

 meet. There are people in vehicles of every kind, on 

 foot, on bicycles and tricycles, as well as about four 

 hundred horsemen, and many things happen on this 

 day of crowding and discomfort which must sorely tax 

 the patience of the most angelic tempered Master. 



A lady who has had a good season at cub hunting, 

 ought to be able to take her place among the third-flight 

 people, where she will gradually gain experience and a 

 knowledge of the country, which will enable her to pass 

 into the second rank, and finally into the first ; but she 

 must work her way up by degrees, and remember that 

 no one can ride safely over Leicestershire in the first 

 flight who is not mounted on an accomplished per- 

 former, and is not thoroughly well acquainted with the 

 country. 



KICKERS AND RED BOWS. 



Unless a lady is perfectly certain that her mount 

 will not lash out at hounds, she should keep well 

 away from them, and should never ride into a 

 covert where they are. I once had a mare of this 

 description who never kicked horses, but who would 



