RIDING AND HUNTING. 119 



box, or shed, littered down. If you can only do this for three 

 or four minutes, it is often sufficient, and the dismounting will 

 often refresh your horse greatly. It is a good plan to examine 

 your girths and tighten them up, if they require it, before 

 trotting off to covert, and it is well to do the same after a long 

 run ; or if the horse is much blown they should be lengthened 

 a hole, and tightened up again after the animal has got his 

 wind. 



When trotting off to covert, never ride too near the hounds, 

 nor get into the way of them, more especially if you are on a 

 horse that is not accustomed to being with hounds, as he is 

 apt to kick them; and always have a pleasant word for the 

 huntsman and whips. They are very civil men, as a rule, and 

 appreciate a friendly remark or two, more especially if these 

 are in praise of the hounds, or their own mounts ; for to be 

 huntsman or whip means for them having days of real hard 

 work, as well as days of enjoyment. 



On reaching the covert side, always keep with the rest of 

 the field while the hounds are drawing. If you ride off alone, 

 as so many do, you are sure to be riding where the places are 

 left clear for the fox to break covert, and the less noise you 

 make the better. 



Always be ready for a good start when the " gone away " 

 has sounded ; but be sure to let the hounds get well on the line 

 before you begin to race for a good place. 



Never ride too near the hounds, nor on to them in their 

 wake, but keep clear of them and well to one side. Masters 

 of harriers know from bitter experience what a nuisance eager 

 riding men are, and they have generally experienced the 

 greatest difficulty on bad scenting days, in keeping even the 

 worst men to hounds from riding over them. With fox hounds 

 it is less important, as a fox generally goes straight, whereas 

 hares twist and turn about in all directions ; but it is just as 

 essential that a hunting man should keep well out of the way 



