The Horse, as Comrade and Friend 



you and your horse act together absolutely 

 as if you were of one flesh — the Centaur in 

 actual fact. It is this unity of mentality and 

 action between man and horse which forms 

 the greatest charm and attraction of hunting. 

 In all the eventualities you know to an ounce 

 what you are going to get out of the old horse ; 

 and the old horse knows to an ounce what he 

 is going to get out of you, and you two act 

 together accordingly. 



In the hunting field there is nothing more 

 comical than the actions of a disunited pair, 

 always in two minds as to everything they 

 encounter. The best hunting jokes relate to 

 the breaking up of that molecule into its com- 

 ponent atoms. 



In teaching Disciple to jump, begin on the 

 theory that you wish to show him something 

 new which is going to be a special treat to him, 

 and that you only allow him to jump as a 

 treat and reward. He will soon accept that 

 view of the matter and will jump just as often 

 as you let him. For Heaven's sake, from the 

 very beginning, never once drive him over a 

 jump. Never let him for an instant think 

 that jumping is an unpleasant duty which he 

 is to be forced to do against his will. If that 

 idea ever gets into his head and develops into 

 conviction, it will infaUibly lead to refusals. 

 What you have got to keep always before you, 

 in training a horse to jump, is to do it on a 



U6 



