26o In Scarlet and Silk 



Hitherto I have only been dealing with made 

 hunters, those that have already learnt their 

 business, and require no jumping practice. 

 Now let us turn our attention for a few 

 minutes to the novice, or the horse which, 

 were he a human criminal, would be face- 

 tiously described upon the judge's calendar as 

 "Imperfectly educated." Very much the same 

 beginning as that previously recommended 

 in the case of training horses for hurdle- 

 jumping will be found efficacious : the low 

 pole, bushed up with good, strong prickly 

 stuff — gorse is the best — which will make 

 the learner rise well, and not allow him to 

 " slop " over his fences : half the battle is in 

 getting a young one to jump " up," and jump 

 " clean." Much may, and ought to, be done 

 at a very early stage of the young hunter's 

 life — say when he is two and three years old 

 — by turning him into a field where he has 

 to jump a fair-sized ditch, and if possible a 

 low hedge or a bank, in order to get to his 

 water-trough, or to a certain spot where you 

 may be accustomed to place a few carrots, or 



