20 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



Master of Stag Hounds, and afterwards of Fox- 

 hounds, I do not think — in fact, I am certain — 

 that I never rode a hunter in a single-reined 

 snaffle. I have, in ninety-nine cases out of a 

 hundred, ridden hunting on the snaffle of a double 

 rein, with the curb only lightly touched to keep 

 the horse's head in the right place, or in deep 

 ground the better to hold him together; and I 

 have ridden on a ^'gag snaffle," also touching the 

 curb rein when the horse was a determined hard 

 23uller, inclined to get his head down and hang 

 upon the bit; and I have ridden several horses 

 who went most agreeably and ^^Avithin them- 

 selves," in a ^^lard and sharp." In short, as it is 

 said with ladies, there are scarce two horses alike, 

 and very few hands on a horse that are similar to each 

 other in their principle of governing the beautiful 

 animal when in fall exertion of all his powers. 



Among the many curious mouths I have met 

 with in hunters, a horse called '' Captain," which 

 I bought of the late Sir George Seymour, liad 

 the most strange. His mouth entirely depended 

 on his temper, and his temper on the work he 

 was ashed to do by the huntsman on his back with 

 hounds. If the work with hounds at a clieck 



