Horse Companionship 285 



must let him and the hounds cipher it out in their own 

 way." 



Don't lark your horse over fences in the presence of the 

 hunting-field. It is the work of a horse-dealer, or a very 

 swell-headed rider who wishes to display himself. 



Don't ride about on a steaming horse anywhere near 

 hounds when at a check. The perspiring horse will foil 

 the line for rods about. Jump off, if only for a minute, 

 and rest your horse. Think how it would be with your- 

 self, carrying even a very light parcel, if you could not 

 change it to the other hand or set it down a moment. It 

 may seem strange to some of my readers that I should men- 

 tion so evident a fact, but city men as a rule are great 

 offenders in just these nice points of horsemanship. 



Don't allow your horse to rush his fences if it is within 

 your power to control him. If you cannot hold him, sell 

 him, or send him to the plough. Such a horse has no 

 business in the hunting-field. It is a sure sign of funk in 

 yourself or your horse, or both. Perhaps he is not properly 

 ridden, as I suggested before, and his rushing comes from 

 the punishment you give him by pulling at his mouth or 

 spurring him at every jump. In any case, it is probably 

 the rider's fault. 



Don't follow some daredevil rider over barbed-wire 

 fences or any other unreasonable obstacles. He has done 

 it to show off. Either his hunting-flask put him up to it, 

 or he is one of those empty-headed fellows who court 

 admiration. It is as vulgar as it is unhorsemanlike. You 

 had better be called a coward by all such fellows than an 

 *' empty-headed ass " by the Master. I have said so much 



