CAPKICE. 89 



even awkwardness, on beginning witli any new mount, 

 until a more perfect acquaintance is established between 

 man and horse. 



A horseman who identifies himself with his steed will 

 sometimes by a mere fluke hit off the means of having 

 his own way with a capricious though perhaps really 

 well-disposed animal, if one only knew the way to 

 manage him. 



For instance, a first-class hunter of my own (Baronet), 

 whose excellent performance in the field, where I had 

 seen him tried, induced me to purchase him, soon gave 

 evidence of a peculiarity for which, unknown to me, he 

 had made himself remarkable. No ordinary means 

 could prevail upon him to go through any street of a 

 town except such as he pleased himself, of which he 

 gave me evidence the first day I had occasion to try him 

 in that way, walking on his hind legs directly his will 

 was disputed on the subject, even to the extent of a 

 mere pressure on the rein at the side he was required 

 to turn. In my difficulty instinct prompted me to drop 

 the reins and gently direct his progress with the point 

 of the whip at the side of his nose, and in this way he 

 went ever after as quiet as a sheep with me. Having 

 discovered his caprice, I was always provided with a 

 handle of a whip or a switch of some kind for his bene- 

 fit. Riding him one day into Dycer's, an old acquaint- 



of the first edition of this work, to add a chapter on caprices of 

 horses ; and doubtless such would be so extremely interesting, that 

 the temptation to insert notes under this head in my first edition 

 was only overcome by the determination to avoid being led into 

 anecdote, which has been strictly observed throughout, as being 

 out of keeping with the concise style in which it was intended that 

 the book should be produced. A few practical hints are, how- 

 ever, here classed under the head of " Caprice." 



