24 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



headed, the more capable he is of entering into the spirit 

 of the game, and of enjoying the day's run as well as his 

 master. It must be remembered, however, that, besides size 

 of brain, quality also is to be looked for. There are big 

 basswood-headed horses, and there are small hickory-headed 

 horses. Quantity must not be confounded with quality. 

 Some brainy horses have from past bad management had 

 their nerves shattered, so to speak, and what brains they 

 have are a damage to them. On this point a study of 

 physiognomy is a help. 



There are many rattle-headed, nervous, high-strung 

 horses that make good jumpers, but not every good fencer 

 is, by that same token, a good hunter. Almost anything 

 in the shape of a horse can pull a harrow or go in harness, 

 but for cross-country work a horse must possess the very 

 highest qualities and the sum total of all the virtues of the 

 equine race. He should possess courage that stops just 

 short of recklessness, great nervous force with coolness, 

 great energy with judgment, light-heartedness without fool- 

 ishness, staying qualities of the best, good breeding, perfect 

 manners. These are the qualifications of a high-class 

 cross-country horse. These are also the qualifications of a 

 high-class cross-country rider. If they are to be omitted 

 from either, the horse should not be the one to suffer, for 

 he has to look out for himself and the rider as well. Be- 

 sides all this, the horse must have suitable conformation for 

 the work, be a good feeder, and sound. 



One can hardly hope to find so many qualifications in a 

 single animal, but if a horse that approaches this standard 

 is found, forgive his shortcomings and be consoled with 



