240 A HUNTING CATECHISM 



with the neck. If the tail is bent backwards it is 

 quickly broken ; while the neck is easily dis- 

 located if the head is bent upwards. A horse 

 may be almost dragged out by the neck after a 

 rope has been placed round it, if only the pull is 

 in a straight line. 



If the horse is lying on his back he must be 

 pulled over, and it is usually safer to pull him 

 over by the tail than by the head ; for in this 

 case as soon as all the weight is on the haunches 

 some bone is very likely to break, either in the 

 thigh or the hind-leg. If, however, the horse is 

 lying on his chest, with a fore-leg doubled under 

 him, which is a common position, every effort 

 must be made to get the fore-leg pulled out, and 

 placed in front of him, for until both the fore-legs 

 are well in front, he cannot possibly rise. As 

 soon as his fore-legs are in the right position, he 

 should be threatened with a hunting-whip, and 

 even hit if necessary ; for unless he makes a big 

 effort at once, which is almost certain to succeed, 

 he may lie there for hours, and becoming in- 

 capable of making a struggle, may succumb from 

 exhaustion. 



If a rider is not seen to rise up again, when a 

 fall takes place, it is most imperative that any one 

 near should gallop to his assistance at once, for it 

 may make all the difference between life and 

 death, whether help is forthcoming immediately. 

 The good Samaritan, on reaching the spot, should 

 however, take measures for securing his own 

 horse, especially if the two riders are quite alone, 

 for it may be he will have to ride off for assist- 

 ance, and if in his haste he has allowed his horse 

 to go free, much valuable time may be lost in 

 catching him again. There is no better plan than 



