vi A HUNTING CATECHISM 



Realising that I knew absolutely nothing about 

 horses, and that, if they did not pay for them- 

 selves, I certainly could not do so, and casting 

 about for a means of improving my knowledge, 

 I was fortunate in finding in the mess a copy of 

 " Youatt on the Horse," then a comparatively 

 new work. I learned this almost by heart, and 

 taking each part of the anatomy in succession, 

 after carefully studying what the book said, I 

 sallied into the streets to search for examples, 

 which were found chiefly in the cab-ranks ; and 

 the knowledge thus gained proved as great a 

 power as real knowledge always does. 



Race-riding, hunting, and training followed in 

 due course, and having been my own purchaser, 

 breaker, groom, trainer, jockey, and veterinary 

 surgeon, with satisfactory results, I have neces- 

 sarily tried innumerable ways, systems, and 

 recipes, some of which, though they may have 

 been fairly successful, have been at once dis- 

 carded, when I have been convinced another was 

 better, though I have held firmly to what has 

 been proved to be sound, heedless of the passing 

 whims of fashion. 



My grateful thanks are here proffered to Tom 

 Smith, the famous huntsman of the Bramham 

 Moor hounds, who has kindly added notes about 

 hunting, and the management of a pack ; and 

 to Mr. J. G. Elsey, the eminent steeple-chase 

 trainer, who has given much valuable informa- 

 tion about horses, and riding to hounds. The 

 experience of such experts must ever carry great 

 weight in forming conclusions. Differences of 

 opinion must always exist, but success is ever 

 the true touchstone of merit. 



