Hands 113 



country and never need the friendly aid of a pull on the 

 reins or a grip with the legs to assist him in keeping his 

 balance. He will need them, certainly, but only as the, law 

 of self-preservation directs. There are a great many ifs in 

 the way of attaining perfection in cross-country riding, be- 

 cause the requirements of horse and rider are so various. 

 Perfection is rarely found in either man or beast. We 

 find horses that will stop if you slacken the reins as they are 

 about to spring: they have so long been ridden over fences 

 with the rider's weight on their mouths that when they 

 are given their heads they think something has happened. 

 Long custom has taught them to expect it, and if it does 

 not come it is as likely as not to throw them out of gear, 

 and the rider out of the saddle at the same time. What 

 then ? Why, ride the horse as he wants to be ridden. 

 That is horsemanship. 



The standard of excellence for horse and rider is so 

 high, and, as I say, the requirements are so numerous, that 

 no matter how great our experience has been, there will 

 always be something to strive for, something to learn. This 

 is the great charm of hunting ; it is a science within a 

 science. If it were to be mastered quickly or easily the 

 zest for it would not have persisted all these years. It is 

 like billiards, or fencing : you never do so well at either 

 but that you know you might have done better. 



Let not the novice be discouraged, however; the best 

 that the best can do is to set before himself a standard of 

 perfection, and work and delve and strive to attain it. The 

 game is pursued with increasing interest only by the men 

 who strive in this persistent way to master it. 



