ON HUNTING. 167 



to be learned by either man or horse. The hunting- 

 field is not the place for practising the rudiments of the 

 art. Buy a perfect hunter ; no matter how blemished 

 or how ugly, so that he has legs, eyes, and wind to carry 

 him and his rider across the country. It is essential 

 that one of the two should perfectly understand the bu- 

 siness in hand. Have nothing to say to a puller, a 

 rusher, or a kicker, even if you fancy you are competent; 

 a cult should only be ridden by a man who is paid to 

 risk his bones. An amateur endangers himself, his 

 neighbours, and the pack, by attempting rough-riding. 

 The best plan for a man of moderate means those who 

 can afford to spend hundreds on experiments can pick 

 and choose in the best stables is to hire a hack hunter; 

 and, if he suits, buy him, to teach you how to go. 



" Never take a jump when an open gate or gap is 

 handy, unless the hounds are going fast. Don't at- 

 tempt to show in front, unless you feel you can keep 

 there. Beginners, who try to make a display, even if 

 lucky at first, are sure to make some horrid blunder. 

 Go slowly at your fences, except water and wide ditches, 

 and don't pull at the curb when your horse is rising. 

 In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, the horse will be 

 better without your assistance than with it. Don't wear 

 spurs until you are quite sure that you won't spur at 

 the wrong time. Never lose your temper with your 

 horse, and never strike him with the whip when going 

 at a fence ; it is almost sure to make him swerve. Pick 

 out the firmest ground ; hold your horse together across 

 ploughed land ; if you want a pilot, choose not a scarlet 

 and cap, but some well-mounted old farmer, who has 

 not got a horse to sell : if he has, ten to one but he 

 leads you into grief. 



" In going from cover to cover, keep in the same field 



