228 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



much from such a steed. It will not matter if 

 it is rather a screw, so long as it is sound enough 

 to do its share of the partnership, the main thing 

 being that it is thoroughly accomplished and 

 easy to ride, so that the pupil may have no 

 difficulty in following where he sees other people 

 go. It is time enough to get on to a raw, or 

 difficult, horse when knowledge has come of 

 what to do and how to do it ; then it is necessary 

 to ride more difficult horses, for no one ever 

 became a really fine horseman by only riding 

 well-made hunters. 



One of the first things to be attended to is to 

 see that the novice has his stirrups the right 

 length, which is often too much left to chance ; 

 for on this ultimately depends his power in the 

 saddle, and the possession of a seat no antics of a 

 horse should be able to disturb. On a strong seat 

 also to a great extent hinges the acquirement of 

 first-rate hands, for if the rider finds it necessary 

 to use the reins to preserve his balance, he cannot 

 expect his horse to be ever on the alert to obey 

 their slightest indication ; nor can he ride with 

 the long reins that are essential to perfect hands, 

 when he continually is obliged to steady himself 

 by their aid. 



Ladies are generally supposed to have better 

 hands than most men, and possibly this is the 

 case ; though the best men have every bit as 

 delicate hands, and also more power in addi- 

 tion. 



Of bits there are an endless variety, many 

 unsuitable, from their severity, for riding across 

 country horses with ordinary mouths. It is 

 most usually the rider's hands that are in fault 

 when a horse cannot be ridden in an ordinary 



