FIELD TRAINING 71 



how many men who hunt can do neither correctly. 

 The former is the most important, so it will be well 

 to take it first. 



One main broad rule may be laid down for 

 opening a gate, viz. " Use the hand which is next 

 to the hinges." 



Thus a gate whose hinges come on the right 

 should be opened with the right hand, and vice 

 versa. This applies equally whether the gate 

 opens to you or fro7?i you. 



Plate XII., Fig. i, shows the first position in 

 opening, with a hunting crop, a right handed gate 

 which opens to you. The fastening is first lifted 

 up, or drawn back (as the case may be), and the 

 gate pulled a little way open, the crop is then 

 transferred quickly to the upper bar, the horse 

 backed far enough to enable the gate to clear his 

 shoulder, and the gate is then given a good strong 

 swing which should throw it wide open. Should it 

 come back quickly, it is caught as shown in Fig. 2, 

 and given another push to enable the horse's hind- 

 quarters to clear it. 



When out hunting, and people are following 

 behind, it is very bad form not to be most punc- 

 tilious about stopping or pushing a gate, so that 

 the man following you can catch it before it closes. 

 Indeed, on the " Do unto others as you would they 

 should do unto you " principle, it is good to stand 

 even a minute or so, as shown in Fig. 2, Plates 

 XII.,XIII.andXIV.,to make sure that your follower 

 can catch the gate before it closes again. 



