SCENES FROM THE SADDLE. 



The Horse. 



To keep a reasonably satisfactory position in a good run, 

 whether short or long, requires concentration of mind 

 and body, whilst slow runs and the ordinary experiences of 

 a day's hunting have a sufficiently absorbing interest to secure 

 the banishment of business and other cares. There are some 

 who hunt because it is their winter employment ; these are 

 perhaps inclined to be super-critical of the "sport" shown. 

 There are others whose day with hounds is wedged in where 

 possible among business engagements. These are inclined to 

 be uncritical ; ev^ery day is enjoyed. 



It is not possible to strike a balance between the pleasure 

 experienced by the man always well in front on a good horse, 

 whether purchased at five hundred or at fifty pounds, and 

 that of the man further behind, who may be teaching the 

 rudiments of self-preservation to a liorse of his own breeding. 

 Possibly each has the experience suited to his temperament ; 

 the one probably does not possess the patience to wait six 

 years for a foal to mature into the made hunter of the class he 

 requires, or the latter the ability to be consistently in the fore- 

 front, and each draws his own satisfaction from the day. 



The well-bred horse is, as a class, keen and resentful of 

 restraint. This is only wliat miglit be expected from his race 

 history of many generations, but he is as a rule very amenable 

 to training. The horse, on the other hand, whose pedigree 

 largely includes ancestors who have been driven by the voice 

 in the plough or by wliip in the cart has naturally a different 

 disposition. The one is carried forward by inbred emulation, 

 the other without the same natural inclination to compete. He 

 who rides young horses will have to suit his actions to his 

 mounts. Whereas with one horse he will have to exercise 

 much patience in endeavouring to teach self-restraint, to get 



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