4 PRACTICAL HINTS FOR HUNTING NOVICES. 



home complaining that he had not seen a fox all day, 

 and had had no sport. 



If boys and girls begin under the care of hmiting 

 parents, it may be assumed that they will have the best 

 of advice. Parents who are ignorant of hunting should 

 secure for their children the services of some one who 

 ■' knows the ropes." Before they are allowed to go 

 out hunting the youngsters should, at least, be able 

 to manage their ponies without assistance. A child 

 who goes hunting in a leading rein is a source of danger 

 to himself or herself, and very often a nuisance to the 

 field. The led pony often makes a disturbance, and 

 nearly always causes a slight block at a field gate. 

 Boys cannot begin too young, and even the child of five 

 who goes out on a donkey can pick up something ; 

 but the donkey must be in charge of a strong and active 

 man, for donkeys have a way of getting unduly excited 

 when they see hounds or a field of horsemen, and at such 

 times they can show extraordinary strength, and take 

 a great deal of holding, even when a man is leading 

 them. The child who is too young or too small to 

 manage his or her pony may be taken to a meet, but 

 should not be allowed to follow hounds, and, indeed, 

 all very small ponies are likely to be a nuisance to the 

 regular followers. Horses which never kick at another 

 horse will often lash out at a small pony, and ponies 

 which are perfectly quiet at ordinary times have a 

 wonderful knack of becoming greatly excited when taken 

 out hunting. In all Christmas fields there is invariably 

 some boy or girl whose pony takes charge and does what 

 ho likes with his tiny rider, and though one seldom 

 hoars of a serious accident to a youngster, such things 



