144 HUNTING 



of edible matter whicli is sufficient to ward off any 

 feelings of faintness. Chocolate, raisins, or bovril 

 lozenges have the advantage of taking up less room 

 than sandwiches, which, if carried, should always be 

 made of toast and not bread. But so long as 

 quantity is sacrificed to quality, both liquid and 

 solid refreshment must depend upon the taste of the 

 rider. 



If the novice rides his hunter to the meet, he should 

 allow himself plenty of time, so as not to be obliged 

 to go at the rate of more than six miles an hour. 

 If he is a stranger he should note the geography of 

 the country as much as he can and the nature of the 

 fences, for very often the knowledge thus gained will 

 prove to be exceedingly useful later in the day. He 

 will also by this means gradually train his eye to 

 become what is commonly called "a good eye to a 

 country." Many men during a long railway journey 

 amuse themselves by marking the places they would 

 choose to jump in the country through which they 

 are travelling, though the amusement is modified 

 by the wish to exchange the train for a horse. 



We must now "hark forward" to the return home- 

 wards. Unless you finish very close to home it is 

 always advisable to "gruel" your horse, and to see 

 that he takes his gruel, before you think about your 

 own refreshment. Always untighten the girths first. 

 If a horse will drink it, a pint of old ale in the 

 gruel acts as a good stimulant; indeed, some men 

 make a point of accustoming their horses to take ale, 

 as it gives a fillip to a tired horse on the homeward 



