188 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



with a veteran show-ring jumper, but in any case 

 he must be regularly exercised to get him fit, or he may 

 be mildly hunted until about ten days before the show, 

 and jumped once or twice over a four-foot-four-inch 

 jump to show him what is wanted of him. It must be 

 remembered that in order to jump well his " jumping 

 muscles" must be in good condition. 



Schooling in pairs, or one after the other, is not ad- 

 visable, as it is apt to make a horse too hot. Even if 

 horses have been entered in a pair class, with a little 

 judgment and good horsemanship on the part of the 

 riders, animals who have never jumped together can 

 make a very creditable performance in the ring. As a 

 general rule all schooling should be stopped about a 

 week before the show in order to freshen the horse 

 up. The main thing to remember, in schooling hunters 

 for a show, is not to get them sour, or stale, for they 

 will go far more brilliantly in a ring if they are not 

 sick of their work. Time and time again I have seen 

 grooms unwittingly ruin a good horse by putting him 

 over the same jump, over and over again and higher 

 and higher, until he eventually refused or made a mis- 

 take, whereupon they felt obliged to fight him to a 

 finish. 



The hunter may be clipped or not, according to the 

 state of his coat, and whether or not he will be ex- 

 pected to hunt. In any case, in addition to leaving a 

 saddle mark on him, his legs should also be left un- 

 dipped.* 



The manes of thoroughbred hunters should be 

 braided in the same manner recommended for saddle 



* The line where the unclipped portion ends should be straight, and 

 the effect given as workmanlike and simple as possible. Rounding the 

 line, as if the animal wore trousers, is senseless and ugly. 



