190 HACKS AND HUNTERS 



properly placed, do not hesitate to ride up to the ring- 

 master and politely ask him to change it before you 

 jump. No one will think less of you for this, but, on 

 the contrary, they will realize that you are a real horse- 

 man or horsewoman. 



A good hunting pace is preferred by most judges, 

 but it is always best to regulate one's gait according 

 to the individual horse; slow if he jumps best that way, 

 or fast if he is cleverer in this style. In any case be 

 sure to collect him at the corners to prevent his slip- 

 ping; never send him at his jump at an angle, leading 

 on his wrong foot, or cross-cantering. As most rings 

 are right-handed, the horse should approach the jump 

 leading on his off foot. This is particularly important 

 in a lady's horse, for if he is leading on the near, in- 

 stead of the off foot, and should happen to hit the jump 

 and fall, he is more apt to fall on the near side and 

 crush the rider. For this reason I believe that even on 

 a straightaway course a woman's hunter should always 

 be taught to go down at his jumps leading on the off 

 foot. 



If your mount is very hot-headed he may have to be 

 stopped after each jump and restrained up to a certain 

 point before being allowed to go down to it. This 

 sort of manoeuvring will undoubtedly count against 

 him in hunter classes, but it will not tell as much 

 against him as would the poor performance that he 

 would be apt to make if allowed to sail down at the 

 jumps at too rapid a pace. 



If your horse is a refuser, keep a sharp lookout for 

 this trick at the first jump, as this is the one he is most 

 likely to take advantage of. If he stops, turn him 

 round shortly and send him at it as vigorously as pre- 

 vious schooling has shown necessary. You will be 



