IN THE HUNTING-FIELD. 229 



protector. I have even known some sage old sportsmen 

 carry in their pockets a Httle American hammer and nail- 

 box in one, and do their own shoeing when they found 

 themselves in difficulties and at a distance from pro- 

 fessional aid. 



Dismount when there is a check, if only for an instant ; 

 and, when there is time, shift your saddle an inch back 

 or forward, the first for preference. This will prove a great 

 refreshment to your mount. 



Be uniformly kind and courteous to everybody. If you 

 chance to distinguish yourself by good riding, or good 

 fortune, make no fuss about it, or look for adulation 

 Always carry a yard or two of twine, a pick, and a few 

 shillings along with you ; there may be uses for all. 



When riding home, if you do ride, grasp the first 

 opportunity of getting your horse some warm gruel, and 

 take him through a shallow ford or pond to wash the 

 mud from his legs and belly. When you get him to his 

 stable do not allow him to be tormented by elaborate 

 grooming ; see that he is given an abundance of straw to 

 roll in, and a good bucket of linseed tea to drink ; have 

 his ears dried by pulling them, bandage his legs with 

 flannel, and give him an abundance oi fresh air^ which is of 

 far more consequence to an exhausted hunter than either 

 food or water. I greatly disapprove of admitting draughts, 

 especially thorough ones — but it is a dire mistake to 

 cram a horse into a close stable, with every chink stopped 

 up, and then put a huge quantity of hay and oats before 

 him. Bad air and improper feeding soon do their work. 



