FIELD TRAINING 8i 



reins. The former will strengthen the muscles of the 

 thigh and so give power in the saddle ; the latter 

 will go further than anything else to make " good 

 hands." It is best to do it in a riding-school, if one 

 is available, and when our young friend can canter 

 round the school and jump the bar with his hands 

 behind his back, he may consider that he has got a 

 seat fairly independent of the reins. It is surprising 

 how awkward, it might almost be said how uncanny, 

 one feels on first trying this, and no one realizes, till 

 he does try it, how much even the fact of having the 

 end oi 2. perfectly slack rein in the hand contributes 

 to maintenance of balance. 



What must the horse feel when this balance is 

 kept by a tight rein which is fastened to his mouthful 

 of unyielding steel ? 



Well indeed would it be for their horses and for 

 themselves if all riders would never forget this. 



Though all the foregoing accomplishments are 

 useful, each in their way, none of them will be any 

 good in the hunting-field unless the one thing, with- 

 out which no horse can carry a man satisfactorily to 

 hounds, has been thought of, and duly provided for, 

 viz. condition. 



What are the signs of condition and of the want 

 of it ? A hard firm neck, not a weak-feeling flabby 

 one ; ribs clothed with hard firm flesh, not hidden by 

 soft fat, or so naked that each one can be counted 

 the length of a cricket pitch away ; a clear bright 

 eye and blooming coat, instead of a dull eye and a 

 staring coat ; cool clean legs and feet, instead of 



G 



