HINTS ON RIDING 10 HOUNDS 59 



with. Such was the case with my horse Faust. CafTrey, 

 the stud-groom of whom I have before made mention, 

 good horseman though he was, could not get him to go 

 as well as I could. The horse would do anything for 

 me, and when he heard my voice would try and break 

 out of the stable ; and if I went into his box, horse-play 

 was hardly a term strong enough for his mad capers, 

 evidently expressive of his desire for me to take him 

 out ; but as soon as he was out he was sober enough 

 and only eager to get to the kennels. Once with the 

 hounds, he would stick to them all day, and nothing 

 could put him dov/n. If, however, anyone else rode 

 him, he would play all sorts of pranks, and try to get 

 rid of him, and jump short and 'stickj,' and generally 

 disgust his rider, although he was well known to be 

 about the biggest and safest fencer ever seen, and able 

 to jump fences at a stand which other horses could not 

 negotiate at speed. 



4. Never give in to any horse, even if by sticking to 

 your point you thereby lose a run. Get him to do 

 what you require, or you will ruin him if he is allowed 

 to have his own way, and will become either a confirmed 

 'refuser' or a * jibber'; and above everything, never 

 lose your temper : nothing is more disastrous. 



5. When riding at a fence, get opposite to it before 

 you turn your horse to it. If he is turned too sharply 

 round at it, any horse is liable to ' lose ' his fore and hind 

 leg on it, and his hind-legs not only become useless, 

 but may be badly sprained, or the horse's back may be 

 wrenched without your being aware of it until he is put 

 at the next fence, when he may be ruined for ever, or 

 even break his back. I have known many a horse 

 killed by being pushed on after a wrench. I once 



