BOOTS. 345 



insteps, and should be easy to the feet. Tight boots being 

 cold boots, are very uncomfortable during a long ride on 

 a winter's day, and besides, they are not agreeable things 

 to walk in, in the event of the rider parting company with 

 his animal, or having to lead it home, in case of an accident. 

 In view of such eventualities, the thin soles which are used 

 with flat race and steeplechase boots, and which give a 

 pleasant feeling of the stirrup irons, are not suitable for 

 hunting boots, which have to be made somewhat stouter. 



Fig. 232. Posts and rails ; about 3 ft. 9 in. high. 



Fashion varies from time to time, respecting the depth and 

 colour of tops, which are now about 4^ inches deep. 

 Formerly, they were much deeper. 



Spurs of the hunting pattern are always worn with top boots 

 although many good horses go better without them and 

 should be buckled, in a manner which will bring the neck of 

 the spur at about right angles to the leg of the boot. The 

 buckle should of course be on the outside of the boot. If 

 a rider wishes to avoid pricking his horse with his spurs, 



