56 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



on training. He holds that two years are necessary 

 after buying a young raw horse to get him both fit 

 and really trained and ready for work. 



Work in the company of another horse at the last 

 stages and at full pace. At full speed, and when 

 excited, young horses are apt to forget their training. 

 It is good for one man to hunt the other : the horse 

 soon learns to take his jinks unaided, and you have 

 the delightful feeling of change of legs and altered 

 balance before you are ready for it even. 



Many starts from a walk or a halt at full gallop 

 to some object fifty yards away, forward, at an 

 angle, or about, are of value. Each man alternately 

 gives the object and the signal to ride. Use your 

 voice often. If the horse goes wrong in the last 

 stages use the bit freely to correct mistakes, but 

 never forget your horse is your pal. Always ride 

 with sharp spurs ; you may want them to get a 

 horse's quarter out of the way of a fighting hog. 



Remember the rough ground and severe work 

 require very careful hardening for a horse. You 

 cannot have him too fit or too hard : even so, if he 

 is a young 'un, you must work him light. 



Failing pig or cattle, you can train well after 

 jackals or foxes. I trained all my horses this way 

 one year at Campbellpore. I had a cork on my 

 spear point. 



Teach all your horses to swim. If you have a 

 long swim in front of you, slip off your saddle, and 

 lie alongside your horse on the near side, with your 

 right hand and spear over his withers ; do not 

 touch the reins except to guide him if necessary. 

 This is not a difficult accomplishment but it is 

 seldom well done. We all swim in " R," and have 

 many good swimmers ; but those who can swim 



