SCHOOLING OF HUNTERS. 



Aiviv quadrupeds in a wild state acquire a 

 knowledge of jumping as a matter of necessity; 

 the horse in its domestic state requires careful 

 and intelligent training to enable him to properly 

 clear obstacles with ease to himself and rider. A 

 horse which can not by proper handling be 

 taught to jump is deficient in either brains or 

 nervous energy, as it is natural for a horse to 

 answer to the demands of a stronger mind, es- 

 pecially when exerted through kindly enforced 

 discipline. 



It has generally been the practice, especially 

 in Kentucky, to commence the schooling of a 

 hunter in his two-year-old form, but my friend, 

 Frank S. Peer, a most successful schooler of 

 hunters, goes us one better and advises the com- 

 mencement of the education of a hunter before he 

 is foaled, and continued throughout his suckling 

 age. 



Horses seldom, if ever, bring reason to their 

 aid. Natural instinct, however, enables him to 

 learn by association with reasoning beings 

 (through absorption or close cojitact) things 

 which otherwise could not be instilled into him. 



28 



