76 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



Indian sun when the thermometer registered 110 degrees 

 in the shade, while I can remember the positive pleasure of 

 a 12-mile hack home in the face of a blinding storm of sleet 

 and rain after a real good day's hunting. 



Major R. Garden, 17th Lancers, writes : 

 The word best in your query has rather posed me. I 

 think that is a question which will never be settled. If 

 you ask me which require the greater skill and judgment, 

 I say fox-hunting, for the following reasons : 



1. There are many ways open to go when the fox is 

 found : there is only one way to go when the pig is found. 



2. You have a great thrusting crowd to compete with, 

 fox-hunting. You have three or four only pig-sticking, 

 and a great open country to get your start in. 



3. Your brain, your eye, and hands are at work fox- 

 hunting sometimes for one hour on end. This entails 

 saving your horse. Pig-sticking they work for a few 

 minutes only, and the knowledge of the staying powers of 

 your horse is practically never called in question. 



4. I think that a good man to hounds will unquestionably 

 be a good man after pig, and that in a very short space of 

 time. 



But a good man after pig may never become a good man 

 to hounds. 



This I think is the test which in my opinion shows fox- 

 hunting to require more skill and judgment than pig- 

 sticking. 



Lieut.-Colonel W. A. Tilney, 17th Lancers, gives 

 his views as follows : 



On the whole the best of hunting is preferable to the best 

 of pig-sticking. 



In the former there are more incidents in the actual 

 chase, it lasts much longer, and you must always be using 

 your head and cunning. 



Pig-sticking is a grand rush of a few minutes with every 

 thought concentrated on the pig, and none for your own 

 or your horse's safety. The horse must look after himself 

 and you. 



