PERSONAL HINTS FOR HUNTING MEN 147 



hunter for the pleasure of hunting in the same way 

 as a good shot will shoot another man's game for the 

 pleasure of shooting. But, as the most conceited 

 tyro cannot expect to improve his friend's horse, he 

 must do his best not to spoil him. If he is a nervous 

 man, he will make the horse nervous, and not im- 

 probably cause him to become a refuser. The man 

 who excuses himself for not jumping because he is 

 riding somebody else's horse is generally at heart 

 " a funk." The man who " sneaks " through gaps and 

 calls it " riding with judgment " does more to ruin a 

 horse than the man who does not pretend to jump, 

 but keeps to bridle-paths and roads. He earns the 

 contemptuous fame of being a "hard funker." To 

 such a man we feel inclined to say, as Mr Pickwick 

 said to Mr Winkle when the latter gentleman 

 essayed to disport himself upon the ice, " A humbug, 

 sir. I will speak plainer if you wish it. An im- 

 postor, sir." Therefore, we strongly advise the novice 

 not to pretend to take care of his friend's horse when 

 he is only taking care of himself. He is sure to be 

 found out, and will not again be offered a mount. 

 Should he think that the owner has not volunteered 

 sufficient information about the horse, one minute's 

 conversation with the groom is preferable to worry- 

 ing the master. Nor should he forget to tip the 

 groom, for that tip will make a great difference to 

 the groom's opinion of the horse's condition on the 

 following morning, and the novice's chances of an 

 offer of a mount for another day. He should also 

 praise the horse to the groom, for the groom who is 



