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THE HACK. 129 



he must be made to go into his bridle, as indeed he should in 

 his other paces ; the reins should be held one in each hand, so 

 as to check the horse on either leg should he show the slightest 

 inclination to break. He must not be taught, however, to 

 Dear on the bit for support, but should step away freely when 

 he has learned his lesson, with the reins on his neck if neces- 

 sary. If a horse walks too fast for others, he can always be 

 kept back, but if he be a slow walker, his rider will rarely be 

 able to travel in company, except at that jog-trot, the constant 

 indulgence in which knocks twenty pounds or more off a hack's 

 value, and upsets his rider's temper. 



In like manner a hack should be schooled to carry himself 

 in good form, and to trot at a pace not exceeding eight miles 

 an hour, without wanting to increase his speed to the utter- 

 most, and finally to break into a gallop. The slow canter 

 should also be a studied pace. 



In hacking, no less than in hunting, the choice of a proper 

 bridle is a matter of the greatest importance. It was once 

 more the fashion than it now is, to " provoke the caper that 

 they seem to chide ; " but this is a silly proceeding. Some men 

 even now, affect what is known as a " hard and sharp " i.e., a 

 curb bit only, but this practice is not recommended to un- 

 finished horsemen. No sound argument can be advanced in 

 favour of a needlessly sharp bit, for an engine which frets a 

 horse and gives him artificial showiness must be more or less 

 cruel. For ordinary horses the ordinary double bridle will 

 suffice for all purposes, and if from any reason want of 

 schooling or bad breaking, for instance the horse should 

 carry his head too high, the French, or standing martingale, 

 may be employed, without any of the risks that would attend 

 its adoption when using it over a country. 



It has already been stated that a hack should be quiet, and 

 quietness includes an absolute indifference to sounds, noises, 

 and sights which may not be encountered at every turn. 

 Scarcely a season passes without some accident occurring in 

 the Row from a horse taking fright, owing to some other 

 Q 



