276 Forty Years Beagling 



who honestly believe, and do claim, it can not be 

 done; and I believe that their sole reason, for this 

 line of argument is that they have never attended 

 a set of field trials where the judges were mounted. 

 Mounted judges can see more and further on horse- 

 back, and do not tire the same as when they try to 

 follow the braces on foot, day in and day out, often 

 for a week at a time, and ten houi's at a clip. Then 

 again we have the ignorant and novice judge, who 

 rushes in where the oldtimer fears to tread; often 

 a man chosen through club politics, a good fellow, 

 one who has owned a beagle or two for a couple of 

 years, and perhaps has attended but one or two 

 trials. He is the man to be most feared in making 

 the awards. Not that he is not honest, not that he 

 is not an enthusiast, but just simply that due to in- 

 experience he is not up to the tricks of the cony, 

 the beagle and possibly some handlers. 



A judge to be a successful one should have sev- 

 eral years' experience as a breeder, trainer, hunter 

 and field-trial man and good eyesight, be able to 

 ride a horse, show no favoritism, be firm, yet have a 

 pleasing manner, which counts so much to the loser 

 or owner of the defeated hounds. I have seen many 

 a man leave the field after defeat, when certain 

 judges explained incidents of the chase which the 

 handler had not seen, and almost made him feel as 



