FIRST-HAND BITS OF STABLE LORE 



neck and shifted his bits, keep him lightly in 

 hand ready to obey the judges' directions at a 

 moment's notice ; do not expect them to wait 

 while you sort out your reins, fix your hat and 

 stirrups, and when ordered, gradually get under 

 way. 



The same methods apply in a way to hunting 

 classes, and the principal requirement is to go a 

 fair hunting pace all the way, and not to be pull- 

 ing up to a walk and starting again at a gallop at 

 every fence. 



Select stabling that is the quietest in the build- 

 ing, or preferably stable outside. The bustle and 

 the bad air will put many a horse completely off 

 his feed if kept in the building, and unless you 

 are dealing there is no advantage in stabling there ; 

 while your vehicles inevitably get badly banged 

 about in such places, your harness scratched, and 

 your smaller valuables hypothecated. Always be 

 ready long before the call, and do not annoy the 

 management, and get the judges down on you by 

 causing delay either through carelessness, or 

 through a desire to make a sensational, if tardy, 

 entry and set the crowd to asking, "Who is 

 that ? " Such cheap methods of advertising are 

 beneath you. 



296 



