The Hunter. 23 



to win his confidence; this once gained, retain it 

 at any sacrifice. Viciousness and stubbornness 

 can never be thrashed out of a horse; if you can 

 not gain his confidence by kindness and sym- 

 pathy, convince him by the Rarey or Gleason 

 methods that you are his master and will be 

 obeyed, and you will have no further trouble with 

 him. Nothing develops the equine intellect more 

 than close contact with men; therefore mal<:e a 

 companion and friend of your horse. 



Never treat your horse in an indifferent, me- 

 chanical manner as though he were an '*auto," 

 if you expect him to be responsive and enter into 

 your sport with life and zest. 



In the selection of a hunter, if a kicker and 

 plunger or a stumbler, by all means choose the 

 former. A horse may kick or throw you ofT, and 

 as the old darkey said about being blown up on 

 a train, "Dar you is;" but if he stumbles and falls 

 with you, it is as he said about being blown up 

 on a steamer, "Whar is you?" 



While risk and danger incurred are factors 

 that add to the attractiveness of the sport, take 

 my advice and do not seek them through the 

 means of a stumbling horse. 



A horse that kicks at hounds (favorite pas- 

 time of the thoroughbred) is an abomination in 

 the eyes of all hunters, and if he can not be cured, 

 which is quite difficult to do, he should be put to 

 drawing an omnibus — the sooner the better. 



