A First Flight Position 



Surely one owes these fellow-sportsmen some little 

 consideration ? They are members of the hunt, friends 

 of members, visitors, or perhaps total strangers. No 

 matter what their subscription may be, no matter what 

 their position be in life, no matter who they are or what 

 they are, they support hunting in some way or other, 

 or they would not be at the meet. Neither is it essential 

 that they are mounted. Many ardent sportsmen and 

 sportswomen cannot indulge in riding, either through 

 infirmity, an accident, or countless other causes. It 

 seems criminal that all these enthusiasts should be 

 deprived of the game of their hearts by the thoughtless 

 riding of egotistical bravados who over-ride hounds. 



It may appear unjustly humiliating for a debonair, 

 dashing, but quite thoughtless grown-up, to be told by 

 an irate Master, in the presence of a big disappointed 

 field to " Go home and join a pony club." Nevertheless, 

 it is a piece of excellent advice. In pony clubs the 

 courtesies of hunting are inculcated into youngsters. 

 The art of deriving the maximum of personal enjoyment 

 without hampering the enjoyment of others is instilled 

 into young minds. When one sees so many good runs 

 spoiled nowadays one regrets that pony clubs were not 

 in existence years earlier. 



The old adage about being " never too late to mend " 

 is still truthful : and unless this modern world has 

 altered the old Latin texts, Cato mastered the Greek 

 language when he was eighty. So there is still hope 

 that offenders will mend their ways in the hunting field. 



It may be repeated that reputations are earned by 

 being present at the kill. It takes courage, coolness and 



