18 PEACTICAL HINTS FOR HUNTING NOVICES. 



time even a liiiutsman will often wait for the man 

 who has opened a difficult gate for him. And as early 

 as possible you should learn to catch a loose horse, 

 though in your pony days this will not be an easy matter. 

 It may be against the grain to pull up or to go out of 

 your course in an endeavour to catch the horse of 

 someone who is down ; but there is a give and take 

 in the hunting field as there is elscAvhere, and the man 

 who makes no attempt to catch a loose horse should 

 remember that he may want one caught himself some 

 day, and that his duty towards his neighbour is as clearly 

 defined in hunting as in any other condition of life. 

 If you see anyone in difficulties, go at once to his assist- 

 ance, even if you lose your place thereby. Such very 

 simple things occur that are difficult for a single man 

 or woman to put right, but which can be arranged 

 in a moment by two people. A saddle slips back, 

 owing to the girths having become loosened (some horses 

 maintain a fairly even girth all day, and others require 

 their girths to be taken up three or four holes after they 

 have been out two or three hours), the rider dismounts, 

 but cannot jiut the saddle back because his horse 

 will not stand. But if someone comes up to hold the 

 horse the matter is arranged in a moment. So, too, 

 a man may jump a fence, and afterwards perceive a 

 thorn sticking into his horse where he cannot reach it. 

 He has to dismount in order to pull it out, and the horse 

 will not stand still. Half a minute of willing assistance 

 at such a time is most valuable, and you should always 

 remember that horses which are quiet enough at ordinary 

 times become greatly excited when hounds are running, 

 and will seldom stand still when dismounted in the 



