SPEARS AND GEAR 273 



towel inside my hat for the same reason ; it is also 

 good after a swim. You have to remember the 

 ground in India is very hard. 



The clothing of yourself, your horses, and your 

 syces must be inconspicuous. A man who brings 

 white sun-sheets for his horses, or syces wearing 

 white puggaries, on to the hunting-ground is a sinner, 



I find really soft field-boots are the best footgear. 

 You may have to walk miles after a fall if your horse 

 has got away or is lame. 



As you know, I recommend spurs always, of the 

 sharpest. 



Saddling and Horse Kit. A good horse deserves 

 decent kit. Buy Whippy or Sowter saddles ; they 

 always fetch almost their original value when sold 

 in India, and they last for ever. Have a saddle 

 and bridle for each horse ; your syces must have 

 them for exercise. There is nothing so annoying 

 as having to change one's saddle and gear on coming 

 back from a run and seeing a pig break away before 

 you are ready. 



Running Martingales are very useful, but stand- 

 ing ones are in my opinion dangerous. B, of the 

 15th Hussars, who is a brilliant horseman and well 

 known at polo and after pig, generally used one, 

 and owed, I thought, many falls to them. 



See to your girths personally, their condition, 

 and that they are tightened up. A brilliant civilian 

 and one of my greatest friends was killed cantering 

 into a game of polo. His syce had never fastened 

 his girths, and his saddle came round with him. 



You must have gaiters for your horses from knee 

 to fetlock, made of leather lined with numnah and 

 coming down slightly over the fetlock on the out- 

 side. They will save a cut tendon from a hog. 



T 



