82 THE COMPLETE HORSEMAN 



good shows and one bad one, and it happens that 

 it is the bad one that is noticed by the judges. 



Unless a man can reahse these things, and 

 learn to bear his disappointments with equan- 

 imity he had better never have anything to do 

 with showing. And I would strongly advise him 

 to impress upon his groom the necessity of bearing 

 adverse fortune in the show ring ceqito animo. 

 Nothing looks so bad as for a man to ride or 

 drive away without waiting for his card or 

 rosette, or to tear it up or throw it away, and 

 instant dismissal should be the penalty for such 

 a grievous breach of good manners. It should be 

 unnecessary to add that a gentleman of course 

 would not be seen in such actions. But when an 

 owner has made up his mind that he can and will 

 win or lose in a sportsmanlike spirit he may rest 

 assured that he will have a lot of enjoyment out 

 of showing. And if he be a wise man he will 

 show anywhere and under any judges. It is a 

 mistaken policy for a man to say '' I won't show 

 if X is judging, or Y, or Z. He never gives me 

 anything," or '' he does not like my horse/* 

 There may be — perhaps there are prejudiced men, 

 but as a rule men who are placed in the position 

 of judges — especially when they have had some 

 experience — do their uttermost to guard against 

 undue prejudice. Many a prize has been lost by 

 such foolish stay-at-home policy as I have referred 

 to. 



Another thing an owner will do well to bear 

 in mind and that is that, however good a judge 



