344 HUNTING. 



than their female relations, and are consequently, as 

 a rule, more reliable mounts. Great care should be 

 observed in gradually accustoming a young horse to 

 placidly bear the excitement of being surrounded by a 

 large number of his equine companions, and he should 

 thoroughly learn this part of his education before he is 

 required to quit the outskirts of the field, and take his 

 place as a hunter. This preliminary training of course 

 comes under the heading of breaking and not of hunting. 

 A young horse " turned out " in the open, not unfre- 

 quently gives a companion a playful kick, which very 

 seldom inflicts any injury, because it has no " venom " 

 in it, and the hoof that administers the tap is unshod. 

 I have even seen mares with a foal at foot, give the 

 young one a slight push with the hind hoof, to make 

 him get out of the way. The motives of such taps are 

 of course entirely different from the dangerous malevo- 

 lence that prompts a confirmed kicker to " lash out " at 

 horse or man who comes within striking distance. We 

 should bear in mind that a touch behind is very apt to 

 provoke a kick, whether of the vicious, playful or get- 

 out-of-the-way kind. Hence a rider should always be 

 careful never to allow her horse's head to touch the 

 hind quarters of an animal in front, which is a pre- 

 caution that is of special application in crowds of 

 pulled-up horses. Also, on such occasions, she should 

 keep him straight and should prevent him from reining 

 back. Any man or woman who knowingly rides a 

 kicker in a large hunting field, is guilty of disgraceful 

 conduct ; because it is impossible for everyone to get 



