182 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



on. It is a sign of very poor horsemanship to do this 

 and a habit that even long after you have learned to 

 tell by the feel alone is hard to overcome. Besides 

 which, as Mr. Gooch smilingly pointed out, it gives 

 the judges the impression that there are doubts in 

 your mind whether your mount will break right or 

 not, whereas you really wish to give the impression 

 that there isn't a shadow of doubt that he will. 



During the canter your horse will probably be called 

 in. Either the "discards" are left to the last or they 

 are weeded out first, a process which is by far the sim- 

 pler in a class of horses where there is no outstanding 

 winner. In lining up for the judges' inspection, the 

 spot nearest the judges' stand is most sought after, 

 as this is thought to be the blue-ribbon winner's cor- 

 ner. It doesn't, however, make a particle of difference 

 where you stand if you are on a good one, so don't 

 be undignified enough to scuffle for this position; re- 

 membering that the only necessary precaution to take 

 in lining up is not to get into a bunch or allow your- 

 self to be hidden away in a crowd of horses. If neces- 

 sary, pull out a little beyond the line of horses so as 

 to allow your horse sufficient "posing" room. Don't 

 ask a groom to hold your animal's head unless he is 

 extremely fidgety, but let the reins hang loosely on 

 his neck. Make him stand fairly and squarely on all 

 four feet, without slouching or resting one foot, but 

 don't "spread" him with his fore and hind feet 

 stretched way apart in the style so beloved of grooms. 



If asked to strip your horse, see that the groom uses 

 some alacrity in unsaddling, for I have always been 

 of the opinion that in a hot contest the one who steps 

 lively and keeps his horse to the fore, other things 

 being equal, will have a better chance at the ribbon. 



