HUNTING THE FOX 113 



Some people seem quite unable to ride anywhere 

 else in the whole county except in the Huntsman's 

 pocket. Perhaps it saves them the trouble of 

 thinking for themselves how to take their own 

 line ; perhaps they think that if they maintain a 

 horse's length distance in rear of him all day they 

 are sure to see what there is to be seen ; but, 

 however this shocking habit has been contracted, 

 it should be sternly repressed. 



Let us now imagine that the Fox and the 

 Hounds are well away, and that it looks as if we 

 are in for a good thing. Unless you are one of the 

 very first through the first gate, it is permissible, 

 even if a trifle theatrical, to secure a good start 

 by jumping the fence alongside the gate, if it is 

 negotiable. If this has to be done, however, do it 

 at least twenty-five yards away from the gate, 

 and get your horse well by the head, letting him 

 feel the rein and heel on the side farthest away 

 from the gate, so as to distract his attention 

 from the crowd. These precautions are sometimes 

 forgotten, with the ignominious result that the 

 horse refuses, and butts into the flank of the throng 

 that is wrestling with the gateway. But whether 

 the counter-attraction of the gate is there or not, 

 all, or nearly all horses should be ridden with 

 extra resolution over the first fence or two. If 

 Hounds are really going to run, the ideal place to 

 aim at is somewhere between fifty and one hundred 



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