THE USE OF THE BRIDLE. 55 



It certainly seems common sense, that when we tug 

 at a horse's bridle he should oblige us by coming to 

 a halt, yet, in his fast paces, we find the pull produces 

 a precisely contrary effect ; and for this habit, which 

 during the process of breaking has become a second 

 nature, we must make strong allowances, particularly in 

 the hurry and excitement of crossing a country after a 

 pack of hounds. 



It has happened to most of us, no doubt, at some 

 period to have owned a favourite, whose mouth was 

 so fine, temper so perfect, courage so reliable, and who 

 had so learned to accommodate pace and action to 

 our lightest indications, that when thus mounted we felt 

 we could go tit-tupping over a country with slackened 

 rein and toe in stirrup, as if cantering in the Park. 

 As we near our fence, a little more forbidding, perhaps, 

 than common, every stride seems timed like clockwork, 

 and, unwilling to interfere with such perfect mecha- 

 nism, we drop our hand, trusting wholly in the honour 

 of our horse. At the very last stride the traitor 

 refuses, and whisks round. " Et tu brute!" we ex- 

 claim "Are you also a brute?" and catching him 

 vigorously by the head, we ram him again at the ob- 

 stacle to fly over it like a bird. Early associations 

 had prevailed, and our stanch friend disappointed us, 



