76 PRACTICAL HINTS FOR HUNTING NOVICES. 



is an almost similar accident to one I have before 

 described, and is quite the commonest form of danger 

 which the vrearing of the spur by ladies is likely to 

 bring about. On the other hand, I had an oppor- 

 tunity recently of discussing the matter with a first-class 

 horsewoman who invariably wears a spur. She often 

 rides young horses, and always rides her own line 

 in the two countries where she hunts. She is, indeed, 

 an exceptional performer across country, and, of course, 

 she falls at times, especially when riding young ones ; 

 but she assures me that she has never yet found the spur 

 an inconvenience, and that it has never been caught up 

 in her habit when she has come to grief. This rather 

 upholds my original contention about really fine horse- 

 women wearing spurs ; but, all the same, I shall stick to 

 my text, and will again suggest that the wearing of 

 spurs is inadvisable for women. 



In a previous chapter I stated that the novice might 

 begin in dark clothes, and that a year later he might ap- 

 pear in white breeches and top boots, and that in his third 

 season " if all had gone well with his hunting," he 

 might be advanced to the full uniform of scarlet and 

 leathers. It must be understood, however, that this 

 was an individual view of a matter about which there 

 is no fixed rule, and doubtless there are many who 

 think that every beginner should ride for at least three 

 seasons in black before he dons the scarlet coat. And 

 in suggesting what I did I was, of course, taking it for 

 granted that the novice had become a member of the 

 hunt, and was qualified, as far as subscription goes, to 

 ride in whatever costume he preferred. On all sorts of 

 points there must be diversity of opinion about wearing 



