igo FOX-HUNTING IN THE SHIRES 



the case of hunt servants, who have every induce- 

 ment to ride. Their reputation and their hvehhood 

 depend on their doing so. Yet we sometimes see 

 them fail. For example, there was Ben Morgan, 

 who, when whipper-in to Sir R. Sutton, and when he 

 had little or no choice of the animals he rode, was as 

 fine a horseman as ever crossed a country. In due 

 time he became a huntsman, but from this point in 

 his career he was only at his best on a horse he liked. 

 If his horse did not suit him, he would not try, and 

 thus he was not a success. 



In all countries it is an advantage for the huntsman 

 to be close to his hounds, but in Leicestershire it is 

 absolutely necessary if he is to show sport. 



To be able to ride strange horses to hounds re- 

 quires, as I think it preserves, a firm nerve, but it is 

 also certain that fine horsemanship is most desirable. 

 It may, of course, be said, and with considerable 

 plausibility, that the rough and ready riders do go 

 successfully to hounds. We have all known men 

 who were ignorant of and indifferent to all niceties 

 of horsemanship, who crammed along when hounds 

 ran hard. But of such horsemen severe falls take a 

 heavy toll. They spend a considerable portion of 

 their hunting career in compulsory inaction while 

 broken bones are mending. For the daring but 

 ignorant rider is sure to have a great many falls un- 

 less indeed he has a long purse and only keeps the 

 most perfect horses. But even then his sins of omis- 

 sion and commission in the saddle and with the bridle 

 are sure to find him out, and sooner or later he will 

 come to grief. In any case a horse, however first- 

 rate, if ridden by a bad horseman is not likely to 

 reach the end of a long and brilliant run. In short 

 scurries of ten minutes, or in ringing gallops, he may 



