46 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



Arabs make charming hunters, especially for 

 rocky or trappy countries. Like the ponies they 

 cannot quite live with a galloping horse. I have 

 known many good ones, notably, Captain Barrett's 

 (15th Hussars) " Chase me Con," and Major 

 Cameron's (C. I. Horse) beautiful mare, " Summer 

 Seas." 



Pioneer, whom I have mentioned elsewhere, is 

 a Gulf Arab. In fourteen seasons he has only 

 given me one fall, and has never been sick or sorry 

 in his life, except when cut by pig, which was fairly 

 often when we were both young and foolish. His 

 only trouble is that he is too casual, and will not 

 move a leg to avoid a cut. 



The Central India Horse tell me that as a result 

 of their experiences in Persia for nearly two years 

 lately, they find the Persian or Gulf Arab is exception- 

 ally well suited for a pig-sticker. He is very bold, 

 of good constitution, has sound legs, is fast for a 

 short distance, and is very sure on his feet in even 

 the most impossible country. Both Pioneer and 

 Mr. Branford's Rustom bear out this view in an 

 interesting manner. 



Country-breds, thanks to thorough-bred stallions, 

 are in many cases now very well-bred, nice horses. 

 They are always hardy, and their feet stand better 

 than any horse. They are, generally speaking, 

 cheaper than any other class of horse. They are 

 often lacking in chest capacity, high on the leg, and 

 deficient in bone. 



I have been disappointed in the little I have seen 

 of English horses. Sir Locke Elliot brought two 

 very nice ones to a Kadir Cup, but they were 

 galloping, striding horses that looked to me more 

 like steeplechasers than pig-stickers. I doubt if 



