HUNTERS AND HUNTING. 589 



Some are sturdy, some are delicate, some need lots of 

 work, and others do better just to be tightened up now and 

 then to be kept in tune ; no hard and fast rules can be laid, 

 study the horse as you would a problem, and success will be 

 the result. 



When you once have him so that he relies on you, 

 complies to your bidding, do not go across a field and think 

 you will take that panel, then change your mind and start 

 for another, and make him feel that you do not know where 

 you are at ; it is better to take a panel in a fairly bad place 

 than have him think that your mind is unsettled. He loves 

 to feel the leg and the long stirrup leather press against 

 his side, the heel well back, the knee in the right place, and 

 consequently the weight in the middle of his back, the hands 

 low on the withers holding the snafHe firmly, with the finger 

 just touching the curb to let him know what might happen 

 if he did not behave, but more than all he likes to feel 

 that irrepressible enthusiasm and strong " I will," not that 

 " Perhaps I can," or " Perhaps I had better pull up and see 

 how so and so does it." He has just as much pride in being 

 first over as he has in knowing that nothing can daunt 

 him. 



Just take a refuser that has been spoiled by bad hands 

 or a faint heart, put the right man on him and notice the 

 transformation ; every bad quality disappears like night 

 before the sun, his heart expands, his brain expands, he 

 stands firm on his legs, his nostrils grow larger, and he 

 looks at other horses as much as to say, " Now I am with 

 you, this is the first time I have ever had a chance." He 

 may refuse at awkward places, but with a few days' confidence, 

 the combination of two bold hearts is bound to succeed. 



