THE HUNTER AND HIS EDUCATION 



its due. It is used, not for any special and intelli- 

 gent reason, but because the saddler and other ad- 

 visers recommend it. The simpler arrangements, 

 relegated to the groom's use, are just as appro- 

 priate to the master's, and if the latter is possessed 

 of the fine and delicate " hands " which he will 

 not allow that the menial possesses, he should be 

 able to make his horses bend and carry themselves 

 just so much better, with the same tools, than 

 the servant. Experiment will prove what form 

 is suitable to the mouth and to your hand, for 

 the trouble may, and does more often, lie at your 

 door than at the horse's. 



Some of the arguments used, and of the meth- 

 ods advised, may meet with scant favor. That, 

 however, is not the point, and they are simply 

 given as having proved useful in practise. We 

 all have our own ideas about the best ways of 

 accomplishing such feats, and as the main issue is 

 the crossing of a country with safety and ease, 

 and after as little preliminary trouble as possible, 

 perhaps the plans recommended may at least be 

 accorded a trial, results being left to speak for 

 themselves. 



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