HORSES AND HOUNDS. 267 



CHAPTEK XLI. 



On riding to hounds — ^A jealous sportsman — Light axid heavy weights — A 

 sporting Baronet — Training hunters — Irish method — Making the most of 

 your horse — Steeple-chasing and calf-hunting condemned as cruel and 

 absurd — Easter Monday — Her Majesty's stag-hounds in the New Forest 

 — The meet and finish. 



The art of riding well to hounds is not to be acquired in one 

 season by every one. It is with most the result of long expe- 

 rience and observation. Many hard riders will keep with the 

 hounds as long as they are in view, but should they give them 

 the slip, they would be puzzled how to catch them again. 

 Knowledge of country and the usual run of foxes is of great 

 service in such an emergency, but, without these, keeping under 

 the wind and a good ear and eye must be your chief dependence. 

 There is great tact also required in making the most of your 

 horse, and keeping him well together, without distressing him in 

 a long run. A good rider will always keep his horse within 

 bounds, holding him well together over hollow or heavy ground, 

 and assisting him in clearing his fences, whilst Mr. Harem- 

 scarem will be going at the top of his speed, with a loose rem, 

 dashing and crashing over or through everything that comes in 

 his way; and perhaps wind-up his horse at the end of the first 

 three or four miles, by putting him, when blown, at some yawner, 

 which more judicious men get over without diflficulty. 



The ambition to have and keep a good place with hounds is 

 very laudable, and constitutes the very spirit of fox-hunting ; 

 but the excessive jealousy shown by some men, and even want 

 of temper, when others try to keep as good places as themselves, 

 proves a want of fair rivalry. Kiding against another, merely 

 for the lead, is a childish piece of folly. I have ridden with 

 many hard and good riders in my time, but never against them, 

 and, if they got falls, I would stop to help them up again, and 

 they would do the same by me. 



I had once the misfortune, however, to displease a first-rate 

 performer, by getting a good start with the hounds, which he 

 did not. He came rattling after us, at a tremendous rate, to 

 recover his place, which he considered it, as first man, and as 

 we had been going very fast for about three miles, over a stiffly 

 inclosed country, his horse was blown in making up leeway, 

 and the first thing I saw of my furious friend was, upon hear- 

 ing a crash behind me, to behold him on his back in the field, 

 with his horse's hind legs in the ditch. I turned round, ana 



