39 o WITH HOUNDS. 



in a few lessons. I have certainly found that going out of 

 the way to avoid crossing ridge-and-furrow more or less at 

 right angles, entails too much loss of ground to be usually 

 adopted. An unaccustomed horse may often be saved from 

 a shaking by changing the canter or gallop into a trot. 

 Following the head-land is generally advisable, when the 

 centre of the field is heavy ; and always, when it is under 

 cultivation. We must, however, in hunting be prepared to 

 hunt, and when once we are in for a gallop there is no time 

 to pick and choose our ground. If our line is over deep 

 ridge-and-furrow and down-hill at that, as it sometimes is 

 in Leicestershire, we must sit tight, hold our horses together, 

 and face the discomfort of such " going " with the rest. 



During the intervals between spells of active movement, a 

 rider, especially if he is a heavy weight, will greatly economise 

 the staying powers of his mount, by getting off him, as often 

 as he can do, without incurring the risk of being left behind. 

 He will also be greatly aided in the same object, by letting 

 the horse drink a few go-downs of water at any convenient 

 stream or other suitable watering place, when the animal is 

 thirsty, and especially when he is hot. I have fully dis- 

 cussed in Stable Management and Exercise, the rationale of 

 this procedure, which is opposed to English practice. 



As a gate in the Shires will generally slam-to, if it is 

 held open and then let go ; we should, when passing through 

 one, and especially when the hounds are running, be most 

 careful not to let go the gate, if some one else, at a reasonable 

 distance off, is coming up. Neglect of this act of civility is 

 regarded as a gross breach of hunting etiquette. If there is 

 a third party coming up, the new comer should hold the 

 gate for him, and so on. This is not practicable in every 

 case ; for some horses so much resent the least delay when 

 hounds are running that they will rear if kept back, and the 

 rider may be compelled to let go a gate in order to avoid 



