Schooling Hunters 67 



Does reason say we can ever make a hunter of such a 

 horse ? We may make a jumper of him, but between such 

 a horse and the one I previously described there is an 

 impassable gulf. They are not to be mentioned in the 

 same class at all. Look at the two horses going home 

 after a run to hounds — one sad, melancholy, unhappy; 

 the other cheerfully tired, bright, and contented. 



Will a horse schooled by the system herein recom- 

 mended never make a mistake ? Certainly he will ; but he 

 will not blame his rider for it. He is as eager to follow 

 the game as the rider is. The other horse would stop at 

 the first fence and go home if he could. In one you have 

 a boon companion, in the other a poor dumb slave. In 

 hunting there is, or should exist, a partnership between 

 rider and horse. The rider should make himself so agree- 

 able to the horse that the horse will never object to the 

 relationship. 



A good hunter is one that answers to the hand readily, 

 has a good mouth, does not rush or bolt his fences, and is 

 not flustered at other horses passing or by the sight of 

 hounds. 



