162 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



that are far above the capabilities of the ordinary 

 hunter. It requires a much more perfect and careful 

 fencer to win in the show ring, where every "tick" 

 counts, than in the hunting field, where, so long as the 

 horse gets over the fence, it doesn't really matter how. 

 How many men and women in the average hunting 

 field ever jump anything over four feet? They may 

 think they do, but when they come to measure it under 

 the tape, the fence that has stopped the entire field — 

 but which some bruiser has proudly boasted of jump- 

 ing — is found to be barely four feet six inches ! And 

 yet, when they see a horse in the show ring make an 

 absolutely clean performance over eight post and rail 

 jumps of four feet six inches or five feet, in many cases 

 quite as stiff as the jumps one encounters across 

 country, they call it " trick" jumping, and of no ac- 

 count ! I have indeed often found that much of the 

 laughing at show jumpers is a case of sour grapes on 

 the part of the hunting man, for one notices that very 

 often when he really gets a horse good enough to win 

 in the ring, he too enters the arena and stays in it as 

 long as he can pull off the ribbons. Far be it from me 

 not to admit that the hunter has difficulties of take 

 off and landing which the show horse never encounters, 

 and that he therefore requires more intelligence and 

 a kindlier disposition; I merely want to emphasize 

 the absurdity of sneering at those horses who, because 

 of their perfect training and consequent great value, 

 are rarely risked in the hunting field and are kept en- 

 tirely for the show ring. "It is just the same as prize 

 fruit, which is too good to be eaten. It is mainly dis- 

 played as an exhibit of what can be done in fruit-grow- 

 ing for the benefit of those who grow fruit for the 

 market." 



