178 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



As a horse always goes better if the saddle has been 

 on his back for a little while, he should not be saddled 

 up at the last minute, but be ready fifteen minutes 

 or so before his class is called. The girths and the 

 balance strap should, however, be left loose until one 

 is ready to mount. It is a good plan for the exhibitor 

 to keep his eye on the programme, so that, if, as is 

 usually the case, the classes are running behind time, 

 the horse need not be gotten ready too soon. 



Always mount a little while before your class is 

 called to get your horse's back down, to straighten 

 out his paces, and to warm yourself into the saddle. 



Do not wait until the last moment to see that your 

 bridle fits or that your saddle is properly girthed. Re- 

 member that preparedness is the secret of most suc- 

 cess in the show ring, as in everything else in life. After 

 you have been in the saddle a while tighten up your 

 girths and balance strap, but be careful that they are 

 not cinched up too tight. In fact, unless you know 

 exactly what hole the balance strap should go in, it is 

 best never to seek the aid of some strange groom at the 

 last moment, for he may cinch it up too tight, and your 

 horse will act up. 



Try to enter the ring first, when possible, or last, 

 but in any case not "in a bunch," for this starts your 

 horse off all wrong. If your mount has a good snappy, 

 flashy trot, enter at that gait and keep trotting until 

 he has "settled" down and all the other entries are 

 in the ring. If your horse tires quickly, however, and 

 is a steady-going animal, it would be best to enter on 

 a walk and reserve his strength for later. In no case 

 would it be advisable to come into any horse-show 

 ring in America on a canter. At whatever gait you 

 may select, do not in any case be alarmed by the "ring- 



