FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



over, into, through (and under) about every im- 

 aginable fence and combination thereof, the writer 

 has never once been seriously hurt or broken any 

 bones, except when riding the few " made hunt- 

 ers" that chanced, through some infirmity of 

 temper, to be sent to him for coercion. 



Contrary to general opinion, it has always 

 seemed bad policy to deliberately try to put 

 horses down by arranging traps for them, and 

 making them jump fences beyond their powers. 

 Horses must fall, but let that come in the course 

 of events, and when the blood is up. A hunter 

 should be as bold as possible ; and any fall that 

 hurts him will never be forgotten, nor will it 

 always make him more careful, for he sometimes 

 seems to, desperately, take chances thereafter, 

 and does not half try. Moderate-sized, unbreak- 

 able fences are the things over which he may 

 scramble and plunge, but if they do not break 

 he concludes nothing will, and takes care not to 

 test them. Better far three feet six inches in per- 

 fect form over stiff fences, than five feet over 

 loose bars that can be knocked off. Your neo- 

 phyte never forgets the last occurrence, either ; 

 and some day, when he is rather tired, he will 

 take a chance at a big place, fail dismally, and 



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