SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 185 



limbs and lungs is wrong ; but it is better to ride 

 with a breastplate than draw the girths too tightly 

 to keep the saddle in its proper position. In hill 

 countries this appendage is more required, particu- 

 larly for light-bodied horses, but the attention of a 

 good horseman Avill be continually directed to its 

 not pressing too tightly on the neck, and that the 

 throat-lash is sufficiently loose ; the curb-chain also. 

 Perhaps half the men who go out hunting never 

 think of looking to these little matters, which, in 

 reality, are great matters to their horses ; but, 

 before mounting, a good sportsman always makes 

 a minute examination of these things, upon the 

 proper adjustment of which the comfort of his 

 horse so much depends. Unnecessary gear about 

 saddle or carriage horses should be avoided, and on 

 that account we prefer a single bit in his mouth, 

 and a saddle without martingale or breastplate 

 attached to it, since they may impede the progress 

 of your hunter in more wa^^s than one over a 

 stiffly- enclosed country. A padded saddle-cloth, 

 made of rough material on the upper side next 

 the saddle, will tend to keep it in its proper place, 

 and answer the purpose of the breastplate. Spurs 

 are considered by some as necessary appendages to 

 a man's boots, as much, perhaps, for ornament as 

 use, and may be required sometimes to keep a 

 horse straight at his fences ; but for a good hunter 

 au fait at his business, rarely indeed, since we 

 believe he will require no such persuaders to do 

 his best and keep as close to the pack as he pos- 

 sibly can of his own free will. In this respect, 



