252 HORSEMANSHIP. 



thong falling loosely through your hand, when it 

 will be ready for all purposes. Cast your eye for- 

 ward, to take a view of the country, and then on 

 the body of the hounds, to satisfy yourself that 

 they are well settled to the chase. And now comes 

 the young fox- hunter's trial. Yotc must neither 

 take liberties with the hounds^ nor with your horse. 

 Ride wide off — that is, on the left, or on the right 

 of the former, turning as you see them turn, and 

 never find yourself exactly behind them, on their 

 line ; and no matter how perfect may be the lat- 

 ter, never trust him to himself, nor upset him by 

 going too fast for him, or, in other words, over- 

 marking him for pace. However good his mouth, 

 never ride him in chase with quite a slack rein, for, 

 independently of your own safety, it is not giving 

 him a fair chance. He requires your support, and 

 he should have it. 



In riding to hounds, there is much to be gained 

 by what is termed picking out your country. Avoid 

 going straight across land highly ridged, and, con- 

 sequently, deeply furrowed, if possible to avoid it, 

 but rather take your line diagonally. If the fur- 

 rows are very deep and holding, make for the side, 

 or the head-land, where, of course, it is compara- 

 tively level ground. Even if it takes you a little 

 out of your line, you will find your advantage in 

 this, for you may increase your rate of going, and 

 that with ease to your horse, more than equal to 

 the extra distance you have to go. If your horse 

 appear somewhat distressed, it is on a head-land, 

 or still more on a long side-land, that you have a 



