HUNTERS 143 



from the provinces, when he has essayed to ride 

 up to one of the Midland packs on the horses he 

 has been accustomed to go to the front on when 

 hunting at home. 



Another cause of difference of opinion as to 

 what a hunter should be, arises from the various 

 motives that urge a man to hunt ; and the vast 

 majority of those who compose an ordinary field — 

 in England, at any rate — have no intention of 

 riding close up to the hounds, or running any 

 undue risks whatever. Some come out chiefly to 

 see their friends, and to hear or relate the last 

 good story from town. Others hunt for the sake 

 of health. Many hunt for hunting's sake, but 

 their nervous constitution is such that it gives 

 them no pleasure to ride at big fences, or indeed 

 at any fences at all ; and each man carries in his 

 own mind the kind of horse he likes to ride, and 

 persuades himself that this is the proper sort for 

 a hunter. Such a rider, if he is a heavy-weight, 

 is apt to like to bestride an animal as broad in 

 the beam as he is himself ; he looks for plenty of 

 bone, and wants to feel something solid under 

 him. He desires plenty of time to collect his 

 thoughts between one fence and another, even if 

 he has only walked through a gap, and is about 

 to go through the next gate, and the pace at 

 which a thoroughbred horse skims over the 

 ground would disconcert him greatly. For him, 

 therefore, a good-shaped steed, not very far 

 removed from an active plough mare on the 

 dam's side, is very likely to be most suitable, 

 and this becomes the proper type in his eyes that 

 a weight-carrier should be. His neighbour, 

 equally heavy, but of a thin, tall, wiry build, 

 means instead to ride his own line, and if hounds 



