THE LIFE OF A HUNTER 65 



shows, sometimes as a hunter, and some- 

 times as a lady's hack, and I won a number 

 of prizes in both classes. The hunters that 

 then appeared in the show-ring were in- 

 ferior to those of to-day, or else I should 

 never have made the mark I did. But 

 what amused me most was winning prizes 

 as a lady's hack. My manners were perfect, 

 my paces anything but the correct thing, and 

 my canter far too "short"; and then my 

 poor fore-legs ! I stood over frightfully at 

 the knees, and avoided detection by spread- 

 ing myself out and placing my fore-feet well 

 in front of me. The judges might move 

 me about as much as they pleased, but, as 

 long as I was in the ring, nothing would 

 shake my determination to abandon this 



very unnatural pose. Having owed my 

 5 



