278 Cross Country with Horse and Hound 



ship between horse and rider is the very essence of cross- 

 country riding. Whoever has failed to secure the confidence 

 of his mount and his mount's in himself has failed of enjoy- 

 ing the best half- of the game. The right sort of man, 

 even if he may hardly be feeling well enough for a day's 

 hunting, will go out rather than deprive his horse of the 

 pleasure — a bit of self-sacrifice which sometimes happens 

 in England, unusual as it may be on the other side of the 

 Atlantic. The love of animals, especially of horses, is born 

 and bred in the English people. Unlike some Americans, 

 they one and all care enough for a horse that has given 

 them a most glorious day's sport to stay at the stable and 

 see him done up properly and fed before they dine them- 

 selves. In England the children are brought up from 

 infancy to consider the feelings of all domestic animals. 

 An old favourite mare soon to have a foal is talked over 

 again and again, and the expectant mother has the best of 

 care. Love and respect increase as the eventful time ap- 

 proaches. She is turned out on the lawn in front of the 

 house, where the grasses are tenderest and sweetest, and the 

 best of everything is none too good for her. The children 

 divide with her their candy ; the baby is held up and taught 

 to caress and love her. The dear old mare's matronly 

 appearance is never a cause of shame, but of pride, and 

 when at last she has produced her foal, the entire family, 

 down to nurse and the baby, must all go down to the 

 stable to see it. With such instincts, is it any wonder that 

 Englishmen and Englishwomen love a horse? Is it any 

 wonder that there exists between an English rider and his 

 mount a potent feeling of companionship ? Is it any cause 



