HORSES AND STABLES 245 



a strong opinion that in these days no one is justified 

 in taking any incorrigible kicker out hunting. Many 

 years ago, when fields were much smaller than they 

 are now, when the dangers of unmarked wire were un- 

 known, and when in the average hunting field every 

 one not only knew every one else, but knew all about 

 their horses as well, it was often customary for the 

 man who rode a kicker to wear on the back buttons 

 of his coat a bit of white cardboard, with the single 

 word "Kicks" inscribed thereon in big black letters. 

 On a scarlet or on a black coat this notice was most 

 conspicuous, and the kicker was duly avoided, but in 

 an unfortunate moment some one hit upon the idea of a 

 red ribbon in a horse's tail, and that was quickly taken 

 up, and now a dozen or more red ribbons can be seen 

 in any hunting field of fair dimensions, and two or 

 three even where the numbers are quite small. 



But the wearing of the red ribbon is not always 

 legitimate, for certain people have taken advantage of 

 the custom, and have adopted it, not because their 

 horses are kickers, but in order that they may not be 

 crowded, and may find more elbow-room at gaps, 

 gates, and in narrow places, such as the rides of a 

 covert. This is one way in which the wearing of the 

 danger signal is abused, but there is another and more 

 important side to the question, this being the hard fact 

 that many people who ride confirmed kickers think that 

 when they have once announced the fact to all and 

 sundry by placing a ribbon in their horse's tail 

 they have done all that is required of them, and that 

 afterwards they are not to blame if anything happens. 

 And having once sported the signal, these irresponsible 

 men and women will push and shove into the crowd 

 where it is thickest, will hustle for their turn at an 



