RIDING A PIG 67 



go, and stand some hundred yards back : the pig 

 is bound to break back through the Hne to you. 



In riding a hog always remember, or know by 

 pig-craft, what his point is, and always look for his 

 point in that direction. In a heat of the Kadir 

 Cup of 1912, I got away first on a mean pig, who, 

 I was sure, was a nasty jinking beast. He ran left- 

 handed, but his point was to my right. I had the 

 legs of the others, and only rode at a hand gallop 

 quietly behind the boar's off -hind. He jinked, as 

 I knew he must, turned sharp to his right across 

 my front, and was speared. 



As a general rule, gallop straight into a heavy 

 boar, but take a small pig easy. You will be lucky 

 to spear him before he has jinked once or twice. 

 But this all depends on the country, and how much 

 you are pressed. I detest little pig, and seldom 

 ride them. There is a joy in the hunting of a big 

 boar quite different to that of a small. 



I am all in favour of the first spear being a good 

 one that shall either kill or disable the boar so long 

 as you are in difficult country or hunting on a trip. 

 In a competition, or in a Tent Club, when the ground 

 allows, I consider a spot of blood sufficient. It is a 

 matter of opinion and of circumstances. 



With a fast horse make the pace more than ever 

 a cracker from the start. This year I was riding 

 one day with N of the Political Department, a hard 

 rider. I was on a thoroughbred race-horse, he on 

 a fast pony. We got away level on a boar who had 

 a couple of hundred yards' start. N shoved along 

 for all he was worth, and I kept level with him, 

 smiling. When we got up I made my spurt, and 

 missed handsomely as the boar jinked sharp. N 

 came with a rush, and I lost the spear through bad 



