116 HUNTING THE FOX 



to tighten up the collecting process, even to the 

 extent of letting him feel the spurs, and feel them 

 in good time, so as to make up his mind for him 

 in advance. It is not of much avail to use the whip 

 on a sticky jumper before the fence has been 

 jumped, but, if he jumps it in a slovenly manner, 

 it is wonderful what a few sharp cuts will do if 

 properly applied the very moment he lands. He 

 will dart over the next fence in a surprisingly agile 

 manner. The exact explanation of this altered 

 demeanour is not quite clear. But the above 

 recipe is a certainty, and was recommended to the 

 writer of this book many years ago by one of the 

 finest horsemen in the British Isles, who had for 

 many years ridden all sorts of horses over all sorts 

 of fences at the very head of the Hunt. 



Having got a good start and a good place, it is 

 easy to form an opinion as to whether it is a good 

 scenting day or not. If there is a good scent, you 

 may, in the words of an amateur Huntsman who 

 was generally in the same field with his Hounds, 

 ride your horse up to 75 per cent of his value. 



On the very best days Hounds will seldom run 

 for more than twenty minutes without a check, 

 or at least a breathing space. 



On bad scenting days the wise man will give the 

 Huntsman and the M.F.H. a wide berth, and thus 

 save himself from getting disliked, and his horse 

 from getting tired. On these days the Hounds 



