Echoes of the Hunting Horn 



overcome, he is genuinely terrified at the sight of such 

 a big number of hounds. 



To allow him at any time to get into close proximity 

 to hounds or to get into such a position that hounds 

 may, in a narrow lane, get behind him or surround him, 

 is sheer madness. Were a child in the country, on a 

 flower-gathering expedition, to find himself surrounded 

 by an audience of rather ferocious-looking but merely 

 inquisitive bullocks, he would continue his flower- 

 gathering quite undismayed. He knows they are his 

 father's cattle; they are friendly big animals, and some 

 of them would even allow him to scratch their ears. 

 He knows they will not harm him, so he is not the 

 least afraid. Were a juvenile botanist from the city, 

 who had never seen a bullock in his life, suddenly to 

 find himself in the same predicament, he would probably 

 be so terrified that he would scream himself into a frenzy. 

 A young horse does not scream when surrounded by 

 hounds for the first time, but he displays his terror in 

 a more deadly manner he kicks them. 



Half measures are seldom satisfactory and may lead 

 to the development of a permanent vice. The source 

 of the trouble must receive attention. The horse must 

 be given an opportunity to convince himself that his 

 fears are imaginary. To attack the problem intelligently 

 the youngster should be introduced to as many canine 

 friends as possible in his own home. Few houses but 

 possess a terrier or two, a collie or a lovable mongrel 

 of some sort. These are, invariably, only too delighted 

 to be given an outing on the road or across country. 

 When hacking a young horse in such company the rider 



54 



