60 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



tushes much ; but always with an animal standing 

 still. They misjudge the pace of a galloping horse, 

 and nearly always miss. Of course the momentum 

 of the pace renders the cut the more severe if it is 

 inflicted. 



2. Charging Pig, — If you ride " end on " at a 

 charging pig you are very apt to get a pretty fall 

 unless your horse is clever and leaps the pig. As a 

 matter of fact if you are riding an animal worthy 

 the name of a pig-sticker, and you leave his head 

 alone, he will leap the pig successfully more often 

 than not. A pig alongside you who turns sharp 

 across your bows at speed is much more likely to 

 bring you down. For he either cuts your horse's 

 legs away from under him, or entangles him in the 

 spear. 



To see hog and hunter mutually pick each other 

 out when some fifty yards apart, and then charge 

 each other ''bald-headed," end on, with a simul- 

 taneous squeal of rage is always delightful. 



3. Spearing, — If you spear far back you will not 

 kill. Spears, and the art of spearing are discussed 

 in a later chapter. 



4. Holding to the Spear, — My own view is that 

 you should never let go except to save a fall ; or 

 unless, when alone, you cannot keep a heavy boar 

 out. Holding on is largely a matter of habit ; it 

 means many broken spears of course, for nothing 

 can stand the strain of horse and hog. The stoutest 

 shaft will sometimes break, leaving in your hand 

 what looks like tangled fibre. Hunting in company, 

 a man who lets go his spear is a nuisance. If the 

 spear remains in the hog the butt makes it difficult 

 to get near him : if it comes out it may land butt 

 down, point up, and spear some one. 



