CH. ii.] RUSHING AT FENCES. 19 



by slow degrees coming to the full charge. As before, always 

 reward him after every discharge, and also at the moment when you 

 pull up and throw the reins on his neck. If he finds he gets slices 

 of carrot when he stands stock-still, he will soon become so anxious 

 to be stationary that you will have to ride with spurs to keep him 

 to his work. By such means you could get him to lead over fences 

 and stand on the other side until you remount. Many years ago I 

 had in Ireland a chestnut which did not belie his colour, for I 

 purchased him far below his value on account of his great im- 

 petuosity with hounds. He had a sad habit of rushing at his leaps, 

 but riding him in a smooth snaffle, and often giving him slices 

 of carrot, gradually cured his impatience, and he ultimately became 

 very gentle and pleasant. A naval officer, well known to a friend 

 of mine, finding he could not by other means make his pony stand 

 when the dogs pointed, used, sailor like, to anchor the animal by 

 " heaving overboard " (as he expressed it) a heavy weight to which 

 a line from the curb-bit was attached. The weight was carried in 

 one of the holster pipes, in the other was invariably stowed away 

 a liberal allowance of " Grog and Prog." 



