THE HUNTING FIELD. 79 



He should not be played with now, but ridden 

 smartly at the very tails of the hounds, in the front 

 rank during the first two hours, when the sooner his head 

 is turned homewards the better ; which will generally 

 be reached after a sharp walk of about two hours, 

 which will be none too much to cool him down and 

 enable him to enter his stable in a calm and healthy 

 condition. He should now be allowed two days' rest, 

 and then should be ridden with hounds as before ; 

 carefully avoiding riding through deep muddy rides, 

 through woods, &c., which only strain and make horses 

 slow. Continue this for one month, during which time 

 he will have had eight lessons in the hunting field, 

 which will make him, if properly ridden, quite clever 

 enough for a trial. About one mile of country, with fair 

 fences, should now be marked out ; and a good, strong, 

 and very resolute horseman placed on his back. Let 

 an old horse lead him at a strong pace for the first time 

 round, then let the old one be pulled up and take 

 no further part in the trial until the next time round, 

 when he should again join in, and they should have a 

 friendly gallop over the course for the third and last 

 time, neither taking any advantage, but keeping close 

 together. 



This distance (three miles) is as much as it will 

 be prudent to put him over at this stage ; since the 

 severe shocks, &c., from jumping and galloping over 

 rough and uneven ground, will sooner tell their tales 

 on the frame than is generally supposed. He should 

 now be indulged with a quiet walk for about four days, 



