Horse Companionship 287 



drop too much. Jumping-powder makes the reckless fool- 

 hardy. The worst accident I ever saw in the hunting- 

 field was the result of one flask rider daring a rider with an 

 empty flask to jump a picket fence on the road home after 

 a severe run to hounds. " Good ! I '11 go you for a fiver. 

 Go ahead." Over went the leader, his mount rapping the 

 fence heavily with every leg. After him went Empty-flask, 

 against every one's remonstrance, setting both rowels into 

 his horse's sides as he reached the fence. We held our 

 breath till he should be over. But no ! Empty-flask's 

 stimulus had done its work, and its effects were on the 

 wane. With a sluggish swerve of the body forward and a 

 violent pull at the bridle-reins to regain his position, the 

 wicked spurs fairly doubled and shut his horse up instead of 

 extending him. Smash ! went the fence, the horse taking 

 it breast-high. Smash ! went Empty-flask headlong to the 

 ground in a soggy, senseless heap, and there lay till his 

 mount turned a complete somersault upon him, and began 

 threshing wildly with his legs, the unconscious rider's spurs 

 digging into him at every move. 



*' The spurs did it," said one. 



" His horse was done," said another. ** Reaction against 

 too much stimulants," was what they thought. 



" I '11 never offer a flask to a man in the hunting-field 

 again as long as I live," said the fallen rider's friend. 



" You don't mean to say he was drunk ? " 



"No; only the stimulant had shot its bolt. It was a 

 broken leg for a drop too much." — 



Don't scold a groom in the presence of a third person. 



Don't lose your temper with any horse, no matter what 



