SLACK REINS. 229 



men preferred to watch the hunting, than to devote their 

 attention to jealous riding ; so they left the horses to do 

 their work without assistance. A high degree of sagacity was 

 developed in them by trusting to their honour, and making 

 them use their intelligence, without expecting assistance from 

 their riders at every turn. Hence arose that peculiar clever- 

 ness possessed by the old Irish hunter, such as Signal, Fencer, 

 Whisky, and Mickey Free, who were famous in Muskerry 

 many years ago. 



We frequently meet with instances of extraordinary clever 

 horses being very impetuous, some of whom will brook no inter- 

 ference with their mouths. On one of this sort, a meddlesome 

 rider is certain to be brought to speedy grief. Horses which 

 are accustomed to tight reins, on the contrary, often cannot 

 keep on their legs over obstacles or over bad ground, without 

 their riders having a good hold of them by the head. 



If a rider is accustomed to give his horse plenty of rein, the 

 intelligent animal will soon learn to look out for himself, will 

 check his speed and get his hind legs under him before 

 " taking off" ; for horses dislike falling nearly as much as 

 their riders do. It is manifest that when a horse has to 

 " collect " himself, and has to gallop without assistance from 

 the bridle, that he does so by the expenditure of a large 

 amount of force, which would be saved were he ridden up to 

 his bit. Besides, he will jump " stickily " at his fences, and 

 will be slow at getting away from them. 



